“Conviction”

In 2012 Russert made his prime time Dateline debut with an episode titled “Conviction.” The show examined whether the 1998 murder conviction of Jon-Adrian Velazquez was justified or whether Velazquez was wrongly sentenced to life imprisonment for a murder he didn’t commit. Russert spent considerable time at New York’s notorious Sing-Sing Prison interviewing Velazquez. The show sparked a conversation about the possibility of a rash of wrongful convictions in New York City during the crime clampdown wave in the 1990s. Velazquez’s case continues to be ongoing.

“Conviction” was nominated for a news long form Emmy in 2013.

Read more about the back story here:
Conviction: A Reporter’s Ten Year Quest for Answers in a Little-known Murder Case