This is an unnamed guard at the prison where Avery Jenkins is held on death row. Initially, he tries to intimidate Stevenson by drawing attention to the Confederate symbols on his truck and by forcing Stevenson into an unnecessary strip search. As a child of the foster care system, he later identifies with Stevenson’s arguments about how Avery’s traumatic past impacted him. The guard reforms his behavior, shows kindness to Avery, and quits the prison.
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“The white guard” Character Timeline in Just Mercy
The timeline below shows where the character “The white guard” appears in Just Mercy. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Chapter 10: Mitigation
...of increased political oppression and sometimes violence, all accompanied by confederate symbols. Inside, the tall white guard forces Stevenson into a strip search, which is never required for attorneys. Afterward, the guard...
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...the parking lot, Stevenson again sees the truck with the Confederate symbols. Inside, the same white guard is now exceptionally kind, which takes Stevenson by surprise. The guard tells Stevenson that, like...
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