American Literature & Composition: Just Mercy

Vindictive

Showing strong desire for revenge.

Adamant

Completely fixed in place or mind.

Assert

To state a fact or belief confidently and forcefully.

Carceral

Relating to, or suggesting, a jail, prison, or the prison system.

Condemned

Strongly disapproved of.

Degrade

To lower the quality, value, or respect of.

Disillusioned

Disappointed because something is not as good as you previously believed it to be.

Explicit

Stated clearly and in detail.

Hierarchy

A system that organized people or things into levels of importance or authority.

Hostile

Unfriendly, antagonistic, or showing harsh opposition.

Institutionalized

Relating to a large, established organization or deeply embedded within a system.

Litigation

The process of taking a dispute or argument to a court of law.

Meager

Very small amount, not enough.

Misconduct

Bad, wrong, or unlawful behavior.

Prosecute

To officially charge someone with a crime in court.

Testimony

A formal statement given by a witness in a court of law.

Tribulations

Great trouble, suffering, or hardships.

Unprecedented

Never done, known, or experienced before.

Vagrant

A person without a settled home or work who wanders from place to place.

Vexed

Annoyed, frustrated, or worried.