Winter's Justice — Stephen Penner

THE PROBLEM WITH FIGHTING THE SYSTEM IS THAT THE SYSTEM FIGHTS BACKKarim Jackson, college student and social justice activist, joins a protest at a newly completed private jail in downtown Tacoma, Washington. When the director of the jail comes out to confront the protesters, a physical altercation ensues. The director ends up on the ground with a fatal headwound, and Karim ends up arrested for his murder.Talon Winter defends Karim against the murder charges, struggling to convince the prosecutor that Karim didn't actually cause the death and in any event was acting in self-defense. But the prosecutor isn't going to cut a deal for someone accused of killing one of their own. When Talon gets too close to the truth, a third lawyer jumps in-a partner from her old civil firm representing the private jail company.Talon battles both the power of the government and the corporate prison complex to save a man from losing his freedom for a crime he didn't commit.