A black man accused of murdering a white woman, he is one of Stevenson's clients. Since this man has a sullied reputation as an interracial adulterer, investigators are willing to overlook evidence that could prove his innocence. Stevenson is surprised and impressed by this man's good nature and empathy despite the injustice of being wrongly held on death row. When young, this man has a beard and is described as attractive-looking. Later in the story, after his exoneration, he deteriorates mentally and physically, growing thin and frail.

He was the sheriff of Monroe Country, and is instrumental in carrying out Walter's wrongful conviction. This man's corruption is evident in the way he uses law enforcement influence to hold Walter and Ralph Myers on death row before their trials. He also uses witness intimidation tactics, and utters racist epithets when arresting Walter.

He is a drug dealer, known criminal, and compulsive liar who invents a story that implicates Walter McMillian in the murder of Ronda Morrison. Myers is the State's main witness in the trial that finds Walter guilty of Morrison's murder. After participating in group therapy in prison, he recants his testimony and Walter is exonerated. From a childhood injury, this man has extensive burns over his face.

She was an eighteen-year-old white, college student who is murdered in a cleaners shop where she works. As a well-liked member of her community, her unexplained murder leads to anxiety among citizens and law enforcement, precipitating the wrongful accusation and conviction of Walter McMillian. Her murder is still unexplained by the end of the memoir.

She comes to the courthouse as a supporter of Walter McMillian during the hearing that exonerates him. On the second day of the hearing, she is intimidated by a police dog in the courtroom. Stevenson learns that she was traumatized by an experience when she marched for her civil rights in the 1960s and police dogs were set on her. On the third day of the hearing, she walks past the dog and announces to the room that she is there.

She is Walter's wife. While her husband is on death row, she works to put their daughter through college. After Walter's release, she suggests that he not return to Monroe. She has moved on.

She is a white woman with whom Walter conducts an affair. She later becomes involved with Ralph Myers, who falsely accuses Walter of murdering Ronda Morrison. This woman eventually is sentenced to ten years in prison for participating in the murder of Vickie Pittman.

She is a poor white woman for whose murder Ralph Myers and Karen Kelly serve time.

He is director of the Southern Prisoners Defense Committee, whose social justice work advocates for underrepresented condemned people, the majority of whom are poor and black. As a young lawyer, Stevenson meets him on the flight to Alabama. This man inspires Stevenson with his charisma and dedication to the SPDC's cause.

He is the first death row inmate Stevenson meets as an intern for the SPDC. He is described as a neatly groomed young African American man wearing bright, clean prison whites. After talking to Stevenson for three hours, He is led back to his cell singing a hymn.

He is a death row prisoner whose execution is the first Stevenson witnesses. He is composed as he says goodbye to his family before the execution, but grows anxious and frightened after his hair is shaved off in preparation for the execution.

He is one of Stevenson's clients. As a child, he is sentenced to death row for murder. He is described as being particularly small for his age. He is uncommunicative when Stevenson visits him in prison; Stevenson later learns that Charlie is being gang-raped by adult prisoners.