My name is judy henderson.

I spent 36 years in prison for a crime I didn’t commit. But Over those years, I chose to become a victor instead of remaining a victim.

When people ask what I learned during my 36 years of wrongful imprisonment, I tell them I learned that light can find you anywhere—even in the darkest corners of a prison cell. After being pardoned in 2018, I emerged not as a victim, but as someone transformed by decades of unexpected purpose.

Behind bars, I became an advocate for incarcerated women, earned my paralegal certification, and somehow managed to raise my children through bulletproof glass and monitored phone calls.

Today, my work with Catholic Charities allows me to channel my experience into meaningful change.

My memoir, When the Light Finds Us, isn't just about injustice—it's about discovering purpose in unlikely places and the transformative power of hope.

Whether I'm speaking to audiences, working with justice reform organizations, or spending precious time with my grandchildren and great-grandchildren, I carry one message: it's never too late for light to find you, no matter where you are.

My name is judy henderson.

I spent 36 years in prison for a crime I didn’t commit. But Over those years, I chose to become a victor instead of remaining a victim.

Read my book

Hear about my journey

Contact me