Innocence Project Inc

THE GREAT NORTH INNOCENCE PROJECT (GNIP), FOUNDED IN MINNESOTA, EXPANDED ITS REACH IN 2019 TO INCLUDE NORTH DAKOTA AND SOUTH DAKOTA, FILLING A CRUCIAL GAP IN PRO BONO LEGAL SERVICES FOR WRONGFULLY CONVICTED INDIVIDUALS IN THESE STATES. OPERATING ACROSS 206 COUNTIES AND 23 NATIVE NATIONS, GNIP WORKS TO FREE WRONGFULLY CONVICTED INDIVIDUALS AND PREVENT FUTURE INJUSTICES. TO DATE, GNIP HAS SECURED THE RELEASE OF 11 INNOCENT INDIVIDUALS, WHO COLLECTIVELY ENDURED 132 YEARS OF WRONGFUL INCARCERATION. AS ITS CAPACITY HAS EXPANDED, GNIPS MOMENTUM HAS SURGED WITH OVER HALF OF THESE RELEASES OCCURRING SINCE 2020. GNIP'S RECENT SUCCESSES HAVE LED TO AN INCREASED DEMAND FOR ITS SERVICES. SYSTEMIC CONVICTION REVIEW COLLABORATIONS WITH THE MINNESOTA ATTORNEY GENERALS OFFICE AND THE RAMSEY COUNTY ATTORNEYSOFFICE, BUILT UPON THE ONGOING WORK OF THE MINNESOTA CONVICTION REVIEW UNIT (CRU). GNIP SEEKS A GRANT FROM THE BUREAU OF JUSTICE ASSISTANCE TO ENHANCE ITS CAPACITY TO ADDRESS WRONGFUL CONVICTIONS. THE PROPOSED PROJECT AIMS TO SUSTAIN MOMENTUM BY IDENTIFYING AND ADDRESSING TRENDS IN WRONGFUL CONVICTIONS, PROVIDING FIRST-CLASS LEGAL REPRESENTATION TO WRONGFULLY CONVICTED INDIVIDUALS, AND IMPROVING INTAKE PROCEDURES AND DATA GATHERING FOR INCREASED EFFICIENCY, ANALYSIS, AND REPORTING. KEY PROJECT ACTIVITIES INCLUDE HIRING A FULL-TIME STAFF ATTORNEY, ENHANCING PROSECUTORIAL PARTNERSHIPS THROUGH PARTICIPATION IN THE SYSTEMIC REVIEW OF CASES LINKED TO A FORMER MEDICAL EXAMINER, AND CONTINUED SUPPORT OF THE CRU, AS WELL AS OPTIMIZING GNIPS INTAKE PROCESS. EXPECTED OUTCOMES INCLUDE AN INCREASE IN INVESTIGATED AND LITIGATED CASES, LEADING TO A GREATER NUMBER OF EXONERATIONS. THE PROJECT WILL ALSO IMPROVE THE CLIENT INTAKE PROCESS, ENHANCING DATA INTEGRITY AND EFFICIENCY. THE INTENDED BENEFICIARIES OF THE PROJECT ARE WRONGFULLY CONVICTED INDIVIDUALS, THEIR FAMILIES, AND COMMUNITIES IN MINNESOTA, NORTH DAKOTA, AND SOUTH DAKOTA. COLLABORATIVE EFFORTS WITH THE RAMSEY COUNTY ATTORNEYS OFFICE AND CRU WILL FURTHER STRENGTHEN THE PROJECT'S IMPACT.

THE INNOCENCE PROJECT NEW ORLEANS (IPNO) SEEKS BJA FUNDS TO SUPPORT THE REVIEW OF POSSIBLE WRONGFUL CONVICTIONS CAUSED BY THE INADEQUATE PRIOR STANDARDS. IN AUGUST 2007, THE LOUISIANA PUBLIC DEFENDER ACT (ACT 307) WAS PASSED. ACT 307 WAS DESIGNED TO PROVIDE EFFECTIVE LEGAL REPRESENTATION THROUGH BINDING STANDARDS AND GUIDELINES. THE DEADLINE FOR IMPLEMENTATION OF ACT 307 WAS AUGUST 15, 2011. IPNO HAS EXPERIENCE WITH CASES OF INEFFECTIVE ASSISTANCE OF COUNSEL, HAVING EXONERATED FOUR PEOPLE IN THE LAST 3 YEARS WITH SUCH A CLAIM. IPNO CURRENTLY HAS 246 CASES IN ITS INTAKE SYSTEM WITH TOP A/B SCREENING GRADES AND AN ARREST DATE BEFORE ACT 307S IMPLEMENTATION. OF THESE CASES, 77% WERE HANDLED BY A PUBLIC DEFENDER, AND 80% OF APPLICANTS IN IPNOS SCREENED CASES ARE BLACK. IPNOS PROJECT WILL REVIEW CASES WITH AN A/B GRADE AND PRE-AUGUST 15, 2011, ARREST DATE. THIS SCREENING REVIEW WILL SELECT CASES FOR FURTHER INVESTIGATIVE REVIEW BASED ON THE LIKELIHOOD OF WRONGFUL CONVICTION BASED ON INADEQUATE DEFENSE REPRESENTATION. THE SCREENING REVIEW IS DESIGNED TO MAXIMIZE INFORMATION WITHOUT TRIGGERING FILING DEADLINES, AND INVESTIGATION REVIEW WILL BE BASED ON WITNESS INTERVIEWS, CONSULTATION WITH EXPERTS, AND REVIEW OF PUBLIC RECORDS. REVIEWED CASES WILL EITHER BE CLOSED, REFERRED, RESOLVED, OR MOVE FORWARD FOR IPNO REPRESENTATION.

THIS PROJECT IS TITLED ENSURING WRONGFUL CONVICTION REVIEW EQUITY IN ACCESS AND OUTCOMES FOR INDIGENOUS CLIENTS. WITH A FEDERAL REQUEST OF $600,000 AND NON-FEDERAL FUNDING OF $846,000 OVER TWO YEARS, THE PROJECT WILL INCREASE BY 30% THE NUMBER OF INDIGENOUS APPLICATIONS THAT MOVE BEYOND THE MONTANA INNOCENCE PROJECT'S (MTIP'S) INVESTIGATIVE STAGE TO ITS PRE-LITIGATION STAGE. THE WORK OF THIS PROJECT IS INTENDED TO SERVE ITS GOAL OF INCREASING MTIP'S PRESENCE AS A WRONGFUL CONVICTION ENTITY IN MONTANA'S RURAL AND INDIGENOUS COMMUNITIES, THEREBY REDUCING THE NUMBER OF WRONGFUL CONVICTIONS OCCURRING THERE. THE WORK OF THIS PROJECT WILL BE CARRIED OUT BY A STAFF ATTORNEY WITH EXISTING INDIGENOUS RELATIONSHIPS, A PARALEGAL, AND SEVEN CONTRACT INVESTIGATORS WHO HAIL FROM EACH OF THE SEVEN MONTANA TRIBES, THUS ENSURING CULTURAL COMPREHENSIVENESS THROUGHOUT THE STATE. AN ADDED INNOVATION TO THIS PROJECT IS THELEVERAGING OF MSW INTERNS FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF MONTANA, WHO WILL PROVIDE SUPPORT TO INCARCERATED INDIVIDUALS WITH CASES AT THE LITIGATION STAGE TO DEVELOP RE-ENTRY CASE PLANS. THE INTENDED BENEFICIARIES OF THIS PROJECT ARE MEMBERS OF THE BLACKFEET NATION; CROW NATION; CONFEDERATED SALISH, PEND D'ORIELLE & KOOTENAI TRIBES, GROS VENTRE & ASSINIBOINE TRIBES, SIOUX NATION, LITTLE SHELL CHIPPEWA TRIBE, NORTHERN CHEYENNE TRIBE, AND CHIPPEWA CREE TRIBE.

THE PENNSYLVANIA INNOCENCE PROJECT (PAIP) WORKS THROUGHOUT PENNSYLVANIA TO EXONERATE THOSE CONVICTED OF CRIMES THEY DID NOT COMMIT, TO PREVENT INNOCENT PEOPLE FROM BEING PROSECUTED AND CONVICTED, AND TO HELP THOSE WRONGFULLY CONVICTED TRANSITION TO FREEDOM. PAIP ACCOMPLISHES THESE GOALS BY PROVIDING FREE LEGAL REPRESENTATION; ADVOCATING FOR SYSTEMIC CHANGE TO ADDRESS THE ROOT CAUSES OF WRONGFUL CONVICTIONS; AND PROVIDING REENTRY SERVICES TO FREED AND EXONERATED INDIVIDUALS. THE PROPOSED PROJECT WILL BUILD PAIPS INVESTIGATIVE CAPACITY, ALLOWING THEM TO HANDLE MORE CASES BY ADDRESSING AN EXISTING INVESTIGATIVE BOTTLENECK IN OUR FOUR-STAGE CASE EVALUATION PROCESS. THE SUSTAINED, MINDFUL GROWTH OF PAIPS ATTORNEY STAFF OVER THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS HAS MADE PAIPS CASE EVALUATION EFFORTS MORE EFFICIENT AND ALLOWED PAIP TO MOVE MORE CASES THROUGH THE INITIAL REVIEW STAGES MORE QUICKLY.AS A RESULT, PAIP HAS DOZENS OF CASES IDENTIFIED FOR FURTHER INVESTIGATION, BUT LACKS INVESTIGATIVE STAFF TO CONDUCT THOSE INVESTIGATIONS, WHICH CAN OFTEN INVOLVE INTERVIEWING DOZENS OF INDIVIDUALS, SO THAT PAIP CAN HELP EXONERATE MORE INNOCENT INDIVIDUALS. THE PROPOSED INCREASE IN INVESTIGATIVE RESOURCES WILL ALLOW PAIP TO REPRESENT MORE CLIENTS, REDUCE THE AMOUNT OF TIME THAT ANY WRONGLY INCARCERATED PERSON REMAINS IN PRISON, WAITING FOR HELP, AND STRENGTHEN PAIPS WORK TO IMPROVE THE INTEGRITY OF OUR CRIMINAL LEGAL SYSTEM. THIS WILL FURTHER AMPLIFY WORK ON SYSTEMIC CHANGES TO MITIGATE THE RISK OF WRONGFUL CONVICTIONS AND ALLOW PAIP TO EFFICIENTLY IDENTIFY AND LITIGATE MORE INNOCENCE CLAIMS. THE PROPOSED PROJECT WILL ENHANCE THE APPLICANTS CAPACITY TO ENGAGE WITH HISTORICALLY UNDERSERVED AND MARGINALIZED COMMUNITIES AND THOSE ADVERSELY AFFECTED BY SYSTEMIC INEQUITIES; ADDRESS THE PERSISTENT FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO WRONGFUL CONVICTIONS ACROSS THE COMMONWEALTH; AND CREATE BETTER ACCESS TO JUSTICE FOR THOSE WRONGLY CONVICTED.

THE INNOCENCE PROJECT OF FLORIDA (IPF) IN COORDINATION WITH THE CONVICTION REVIEW UNIT FOR THE BROWARD COUNTY STATE ATTORNEYS OFFICE/17TH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT (BCRU) REQUEST FUNDING TO SUPPORT THE COLLABORATIVE JUSTICE IN EYEWITNESS MISIDENTIFICATION CASES PROJECT. EYEWITNESS MISIDENTIFICATION IS A LEADING CAUSE OF WRONGFUL CONVICTIONS BOTH NATIONALLY AND IN FLORIDA. AN ONGOING COLLABORATION BETWEEN THE IPF AND THE BCRU, FUNDED IN PART BY TWO BJA GRANTS IN 2020 AND 2024, IDENTIFIED NUMEROUS CASES OF POSSIBLE WITNESS MISIDENTIFICATION AND LED TO TWO EXONERATIONS BASED PRIMARILY ON WITNESS MISIDENTIFICATION. THE GOALS OF THE COLLABORATIVE JUSTICE IN EYEWITNESS MISIDENTIFICATION CASES PROJECT ARE TO: REVIEW ALREADY IDENTIFIED CASES AND SUCH CASES IDENTIFIED DURING THE GRANT TERM WHERE THERE APPEARS TO BE A POSSIBLE WITNESS MISIDENTIFICATION THAT HAS CONTRIBUTED TO THE CONVICTION; SEEK EXPERT OPINION ON THE FACTORS IMPACTING THE RELIABILITY OF EYEWITNESS EVIDENCE IN APPROXIMATELY 15 OF THESE CASES; EXTEND EXISTING COLLABORATIVE JUSTICE WORK FOR THE BACKLOGGED REQUESTS FOR CASE REVIEWS RECEIVED BY IPF AND THE BCRU; SOLIDIFY IPFS AND THE BCRUS ABILITY TO MANAGE THIS SUBSTANTIAL REVIEW AND BACKLOG REDUCTION PROJECT BY HIRING AN ADDITIONAL FULL-TIME ASSISTANT STATE ATTORNEY AT THE BCRU AND DEFRAY PORTIONS OF SALARY AND BENEFITS FOR CERTAIN IPF LEGAL STAFF TO EFFICIENTLY AND THOROUGHLY REVIEW AND INVESTIGATE THESE CASES; AND PROVIDE, THROUGH IPF LAWYERS, HIGH QUALITY LEGAL ASSISTANCE TO DEFENDANTS IN THE CONVICTION REVIEW UNIT PROCESS AND COLLABORATE WITH THE BCRU TO RESOLVE EIGHT CASES OVER THE THREE-YEAR GRANT TERM.

INNOCENCE PROJECT OF TEXAS (IPTX) IS ONE OF THE LEADING INNOCENCE ORGANIZATIONS IN THE COUNTRY HAVING EXONERATED OR FREED 30 PEOPLE SINCE 2006. IPTX SEEKS TO EXONERATE INNOCENT PEOPLE THROUGHOUT THE STATE OF TEXAS BY PROVIDING FIRST-RATE LEGAL COUNSEL AND INVESTIGATIVE SERVICES AT NO COST. TEXAS HAS THE HIGHEST PRISON POPULATION IN THE COUNTRY AT MORE THAN 130,000 AND IPTX RECEIVES MORE THAN 1,000 REQUESTS FOR ASSISTANCE EACH YEAR. IPTX IS ENDEAVORING TO ADDRESS TWO PROJECTS WITH THE FUNDING THAT WILL RESULT IN SIGNIFICANTLY ENHANCED ABILITY TO REVIEW AND LITIGATE CLAIMS OF INNOCENCE. THE FIRST PROJECT WILL INCREASE IPTXS CAPACITY TO IDENTIFY AND CORRECT WRONGFUL CONVICTIONS BY IMPROVING THE EFFICIENCY OF THE INTAKE AND CASE MANAGEMENT PROCESS; IMPROVING DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS; AND RECRUITING AND MANAGING PRO BONO ATTORNEYS. CURRENTLY, INITIAL REVIEWS ARE CONDUCTED BY A PART-TIME PARALEGAL WHO WILL SOON RETIRE. IPTX WILL HIRE AN INTAKE ATTORNEY AND PARALEGAL TO FULLY AND APPROPRIATELY STAFF THE INTAKE DEPARTMENT, REDUCE THE CASE BACKLOG, AND POTENTIALLY IDENTIFY MORE VALID INNOCENCE CASES. THE INTAKE ATTORNEY WILL RECRUIT, TRAIN, AND MANAGE VOLUNTEER ATTORNEYS WITHIN ORDER TO SECURE AND TRAIN VOLUNTEERS FROM ONE LARGE LAW FIRM IN FIVE MAJOR CITIES BY THE END OF THE GRANT. FUNDS WILL ALSO BE USED TO IMPLEMENT A CENTRALIZED CLOUD-BASED CASE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM THAT WILL ALLOW IPTX TO CAPTURE AND ANALYZE CRITICAL DATA SO THAT CASES DO NOT FALL THROUGH THE CRACKS. THE SECOND PROJECT IS A COLLABORATION WITH THE TRAVIS COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEYS OFFICE (TCDA) TO REVIEW AND LITIGATE POTENTIAL WRONGFUL CONVICTION CLAIMS BASED ON FALSE CONFESSIONS. AFTER FOUR WRONGFUL CONVICTIONS CAME TO LIGHT BY THE EARLY 1990S RELATED TO THE AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENTS HOMICIDE UNIT, A TASK FORCE WAS CREATED IN 1992 TO REVIEW HOMICIDE CASES. THAT TASK FORCE IDENTIFIED SIX ADDITIONAL FALSE CONFESSIONS. WHILE WORKING JOINTLY ON A CASE WITH IPTX IN 2022, TCDA STAFF DISCOVERED MATERIALS THAT INDICATE THAT THE SCOPE OF THE TASK FORCES REVIEW WAS ALARMINGLY NARROW AND THERE IS A HIGH RISK OF FURTHER FALSE CONFESSIONS PROMPTING THE NEED TO REVIEW APPROXIMATELY 200 HOMICIDE CASES BETWEEN 1985 AND 1995. TO ENSURE JUSTICE IS SERVED, IPTX AND TCDA WILL DEVELOP AND IMPLEMENT A CONFESSION REVIEW TEAM TO COLLABORATIVELY CREATE A MATRIX TO TRIAGE CASES, REVIEW CASE MATERIALS, CONDUCT RESEARCH AND INTERVIEWS, AND BEGIN LITIGATION FOR THOSE WITH VALID INNOCENCE CLAIMS.

THE LOS ANGELES INNOCENCE PROJECT IS A NEW NON-PROFIT LEGAL CLINIC THAT IS PART OF A GROUNDBREAKING COLLABORATION WITH CAL STATE LAS CALIFORNIA FORENSIC SCIENCE INSTITUTES ACADEMIC GRADUATE PROGRAM IN CRIMINALISTICS AND FORENSICS. THE COLLABORATION FOCUSES ON UNCOVERING AND CHALLENGING FAULTY OR UNRELIABLE FORENSICS USED TO OBTAIN WRONGFUL CONVICTIONS IN CRIMINAL CASES, WITH THE PROJECT PROVIDING HIGHLY EFFECTIVE LEGAL REPRESENTATION TO INDIGENT INCARCERATED INDIVIDUALS SEEKING TO PROVE THEIR INNOCENCE. THE LOS ANGELES INNOCENCE PROJECT IS COMPRISED OF EXPERIENCED POST-CONVICTION ATTORNEYS WHO HAVE A PROVEN TRACK RECORD OF SUCCESS AND THROUGH THIS GRANT PROPOSES TO FUND THREE FULL-TIME ATTORNEYS TO BUILD THE FIRST OF ITS KIND FAULTY FORENSICS DATABASE, OBTAIN FORENSICS-RELATED DISCOVERY AND TRIAL TRANSCRIPTS, INVESTIGATE AND LITIGATE CLAIMS FOR INDIGENT DEFENDANTS WITH CLAIMS OF ACTUAL INNOCENCE, AND TRAIN CRIMINAL DEFENSE ATTORNEYS ON HOW BEST TO CHALLENGE THE PRESENTATION OF FAULTY FORENSICS IN COURT TODAY. THE PURPOSE IS TO REMEDY WRONGFUL CONVICTIONS, INCLUDING PAST MISUSE OF FORENSIC AND OTHER SCIENTIFIC EVIDENCE IN THE COURTROOM, IMPROVE STANDARDS FOR THE USE OF FORENSIC AND OTHER SCIENTIFIC EVIDENCE IN THE COURTROOM, AND REFORM THE CRIMINAL LEGAL SYSTEM TO PREVENT FUTURE INJUSTICE. PROJECT ACTIVITIES INCLUDE COLLECTING DATA FROM INCARCERATED INDIVIDUALS WITH CLAIMS OF ACTUAL INNOCENCE USING A SPECIALIZED INTAKE FORM, LITIGATING POST-CONVICTION MOTIONS TO OBTAIN DISCOVERY AND TRIAL TRANSCRIPTS, RETAINING AND CONSULTING WITH INDEPENDENT EXPERTS IN VARIOUS FORENSIC DISCIPLINES TO IDENTIFY UNRELIABLE OR FAULTY FORENSICS USED TO OBTAIN WRONGFUL CONVICTIONS, AND INVESTIGATING CLAIMS OF INNOCENCE INCLUDING TRAVELING TO MEET WITH CLIENTS AND WITNESSES ACROSS THE COUNTRY. EXPECTED OUTCOMES INCLUDE OVERTURNING WRONGFUL CONVICTIONS, INCLUDING THOSE CONTAINING FAULTY FORENSICS, IDENTIFYING POTENTIALLY PROBLEMATIC PROSECUTORS, CRIMINALISTS, CRIME LABORATORIES, AND FORENSIC DISCIPLINES IN NEED OF CLOSER SCRUTINY. ADDITIONALLY, IT IS EXPECTED TO ALLOW FOR THE IDENTIFICATION OF CASES AND LABORATORIES WHERE FULL-SCALE AUDITS MAY BE WARRANTED. SUBRECIPIENT ACTIVITIES INCLUDE JOINING FORCES WITH THE STUDENTS AND FACULTY AT CAL STATE LAS CALIFORNIA FORENSIC SCIENCE INSTITUTES GRADUATE PROGRAM IN CRIMINALISTICS AND FORENSICS TO REVIEW AND CHALLENGE UNRELIABLE FORENSIC EVIDENCE USED IN CRIMINAL CASES AND TRAINING THE NEXT GENERATION OF CRIMINALISTS. ADDITIONAL SUBRECIPIENT ACTIVITIES INCLUDE RETAINING EXONERATED INDIVIDUALS AS LOS ANGELES INNOCENCE PROJECT POLICY ADVISORS AND COLLABORATING WITH INNOCENCE PROJECTS AND LEGISLATORS ACROSS THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA TO DISCUSS NEEDED REFORMS AND PROVIDE NEEDED SUPPORT TO LEGISLATORS WORKING TO MAKE CRITICAL CHANGES TO IMPROVE THE CRIMINAL LEGAL SYSTEM AND RECTIFYING THE INJUSTICES EXONEREES ENDURE AFTER RETURNING HOME.

THE GREAT NORTH INNOCENCE PROJECT (GN-IP) SEEKS TO CONTINUE FUNDING FOR THE MINNESOTA CONVICTION REVIEW UNIT (“CRU”), WHICH WAS DEVELOPED AND ESTABLISHED WITH THE SUPPORT OF AN UPHOLDING THE RULE OF LAW AND PREVENTING WRONGFUL CONVICTIONS PROGRAM (URLPWCP) GRANT AWARDED IN 2020 (GRANT #2020-FA-BX-0005).    THE PURPOSE OF THE CRU IS TO IMPROVE OVERALL JUSTICE IN THE STATE OF MINNESOTA THROUGH (1) IDENTIFYING AND REMEDYING WRONGFUL CONVICTIONS (I.E., WHERE THE PERSON CONVICTED DID NOT COMMIT THE CRIME); (2) COLLECTING CASE DATA TO IDENTIFY THE MOST COMMON CAUSES OF WRONGFUL CONVICTIONS; AND (3) PROPOSING CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORMS THAT WOULD PREVENT WRONGFUL CONVICTIONS FROM OCCURRING IN THE FUTURE.  THE CRU IS DESIGNED TO PROVIDE AN AVENUE FOR RELIEF IN CASES OF ACTUAL INNOCENCE WHERE LEGAL OR PROCEDURAL BARRIERS MIGHT OTHERWISE BAR A JUDICIAL REMEDY.  IN CASES WHERE THE PERSON CONVICTED DID NOT COMMIT THE CRIME, THE CRU ALSO SEEKS TO SECURE JUSTICE FOR VICTIMS AND UPHOLD THE RULE OF LAW THROUGH IDENTIFICATION (LEADING TO PROSECUTION) OF THE ACTUAL PERPETRATOR.    NOW THAT THE CRU HAS BEEN ESTABLISHED AND STAFFED, AND THE NECESSARY DATABASES, FORMS AND PROCEDURES HAVE BEEN CREATED, THE CRU’S PRIMARY ACTIVITIES CONSIST OF (1) SOLICITING AND SCREENING APPLICATIONS FROM MINNESOTA PRISONERS WHO CLAIM TO HAVE BEEN WRONGFULLY CONVICTED; (2) CONDUCTING INVESTIGATIONS INTO COLORABLE CLAIMS OF ACTUAL INNOCENCE; AND (3) WHERE APPROPRIATE, RECOMMENDING THAT THE ATTORNEY GENERAL’S OFFICE SEEK RELIEF FROM THE CONVICTION.  THE CRU ALSO MAINTAINS A DATABASE DESIGNED TO TRACK FACTORS PRESENT IN WRONGFUL CONVICTIONS, AND RELIES ON THE DATA OBTAINED TO IDENTIFY SYSTEMIC PROBLEMS AND TO FORMULATE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORMS.  OTHER ACTIVITIES INCLUDE PUBLIC OUTREACH AND EDUCATION, AS WELL AS CRIME VICTIM OUTREACH.         THE EXPECTED OUTCOMES ARE THE REMEDYING AND PREVENTION OF FUTURE WRONGFUL CONVICTIONS IN MINNESOTA, INCREASED TRUST IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM THROUGH TRANSPARENCE AND ACCOUNTABILITY, AND AN EVOLUTION IN PROSECUTORIAL CULTURE STATEWIDE, WITH PROSECUTORS EMBRACING THEIR PRIMARY DUTY AS BEING TO SEEK JUSTICE WITHIN THE BOUNDS OF THE LAW, NOT MERELY TO CONVICT.    THE CRU’S SERVICE AREA INCLUDES THE ENTIRE STATE OF MINNESOTA.   THE INTENDED BENEFICIARIES INCLUDE WRONGFULLY CONVICTED PRISONERS IN MINNESOTA, MINNESOTA RESIDENTS AT RISK OF FUTURE WRONGFUL CONVICTIONS, CRIME VICTIMS, AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC.    THE OFFICE OF THE MINNESOTA ATTORNEY GENERAL IS A SUB-RECIPIENT ON THE ORIGINAL GRANT  AND WOULD CONTINUE TO BE A SUB-RECIPIENT ON ANY CONTINUATION FUNDING.

EYEWITNESS IDENTIFICATION PRACTICES ARE A PERSISTENT CONTRIBUTING FACTOR TO WRONGFUL CONVICTIONS. NATIONALLY, MORE THAN ONE OUT OF FOUR EXONERATIONS INVOLVED AN EYEWITNESS IDENTIFICATION ERROR, THE MIDWEST INNOCENCE PROJECT (MIP) HAS DEVOTED SIGNIFICANT RESOURCES TO IDENTIFYING AND REVIEWING CASES INVOLVING EYEWITNESS IDENTIFICATIONS. INVESTIGATING THE ROLE OF POLICING PRACTICE IN EYEWITNESS MISIDENTIFICATION: A NOVEL METHOD FOR RESEARCHING EYEWITNESS IDENTIFICATION PRACTICES AND REVIEWING POST-CONVICTION INNOCENCE CASES IS A PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN MIP AND THE JOHN JAY COLLEGE OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE OF THE CITY UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK TO RESEARCH WHETHER OFFICERS ARE MORE LIKELY TO PLACE BLACK THAN WHITE SUSPECTS IN IDENTIFICATION PROCEDURES WHEN THERE IS LITTLE TO NO EVIDENCE THAT THEY ARE GUILTY.             IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT INNOCENT PEOPLE CONVICTED IN MIP’S WHOSE CONVICTION RELIED ON FAULTY EYEWITNESS IDENTIFICATION PRACTICES HAVE THEIR CASES REVIEWED. THIS RESEARCH PROJECT IS A UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY TO FULLY UNDERSTAND THE BREADTH OF IMPROPER EYEWITNESS IDENTIFICATION PRACTICES IN MIP’S REGION. IN ADDITION TO THE RESEARCH THIS GRANT WILL FUND, IT WILL ALSO ALLOW MIP TO PRIORITIZE THE REVIEW AND INVESTIGATION OF NON-DNA EYEWITNESS IDENTIFICATION CASES. THIS EFFORT SERVES TO IMPROVE PUBLIC SAFETY BECAUSE WHEN WITNESSES IDENTIFY AN INNOCENT SUSPECT, THE ACTUAL PERPETRATOR IS LIKELY TO GO FREE. THE POTENTIAL OF THE PROPOSED RESEARCH CAN HAVE THE SAME PUBLIC SAFETY OUTCOMES ON AN EXPONENTIALLY LARGER SCALE; VICTIMS’ AND SURVIVORS’ CASES CAN BE INVESTIGATED USING MORE RELIABLE METHODS TO HELP IDENTIFY THE ACTUAL PERPETRATOR, AND POLICING PRACTICES THAT PLACE BLACK PEOPLE AT HIGHER RISK FOR BEING WRONGFULLY CONVICTED CAN BE IDENTIFIED AND CHANGED.

THE UPHOLDING THE RULE OF LAW AND PREVENTING WRONGFUL CONVICTIONS (ROL/WCR) PROGRAM WILL PROVIDE INNOCENCE PROJECT NEW ORLEANS (IPNO) WITH AN OPPORTUNITY TO INVESTIGATE AND LITIGATE CASES OF WRONGFUL CONVICTIONS THROUGHOUT LOUISIANA USING SCIENTIFIC OR TECHNICAL EVIDENCE. THERE IS A UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY AND NEED FOR THIS WORK BECAUSE LOUISIANA’S FIRST LEGISLATION ALLOWING WRONGFULLY CONVICTED PEOPLE TO OBTAIN NEW EXAMINATIONS OF NON-DNA EVIDENCE AND PRESENT IT TO COURT TO PROVE INNOCENCE BECAME EFFECTIVE AUGUST 2021. THE 2021 LOUISIANA LEGISLATURE PASSED ACT 104. WORKING TOGETHER, IPNO AND THE LOUISIANA DISTRICT ATTORNEY’S ASSOCIATION ADVOCATED FOR ITS PASSAGE.  ACT 104 (CODIFIED IN LA. C. CR. P. ARTS. 926.2 AND 926.3) ALLOWS FOR POST-TRIAL “TESTING OR EXAMINATION OF ANY EVIDENCE RELEVANT TO THE OFFENSE OF CONVICTION” WITH THE AGREEMENT OF THE STATE OR UPON A SHOWING OF “GOOD CAUSE.” IT ALSO ALLOWS FOR EXONERATION BASED ON PROOF INCLUDING “SCIENTIFIC, FORENSIC, [OR] PHYSICAL” EVIDENCE. AS A RESULT, THE SCOPE FOR EXONERATING PEOPLE WITH SCIENTIFIC OR TECHNICAL EVIDENCE OF INNOCENCE HAS GREATLY EXPANDED. THROUGH THIS PROJECT, IPNO WILL INVESTIGATE CASES NEEDING NON-DNA SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNICAL TESTING AND ANALYSIS. LOUISIANA CONTINUES TO IMPRISON MORE OF ITS CITIZENS PER CAPITA THAN ANY OTHER STATE AND HAS ONE OF THE HIGHEST RATES OF EXONERATION PER CAPITA.  THIS SHOWS THE CONTINUED, URGENT NEED FOR IPNO TO EMPLOY ALL OF THE TOOLS—NEW AND EXISTING LAWS—TO FREE THE INNOCENT AT LOUISIANA’S ANGOLA PRISON—A FORMER PLANTATION BUILT WITH ENSLAVED PEOPLE’S LABOR.  IN FACT, WE HAVE ALREADY IDENTIFIED 78 CASES WHERE THE USE OF SCIENTIFIC/TECHNICAL EXAMINATION WILL BE CRITICAL TO FREEING THE INNOCENT.

THE MID-ATLANTIC INNOCENCE PROJECT (MAIP) WORKS TO CORRECT THE CONVICTION OF INNOCENT PEOPLE IN THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, MARYLAND, AND VIRGINIA. TO DO THIS, MAIP REVIEWS APPROXIMATELY 300 REQUESTS FOR HELP EACH YEAR FROM INDIVIDUALS CLAIMING INNOCENCE. THE GOAL OF THE CASE-REVIEW PROCESS IS TO ENSURE THAT ITS SCREENING PROCESS IS AS ACCURATE AND EFFICIENT AS POSSIBLE. THIS MEANS ISOLATING STRONG INNOCENCE CLAIMS WITHOUT: (1) ERRONEOUSLY REJECTING THE CASES OF APPLICANTS WITH PROVABLE INNOCENCE CLAIMS; (2) FOCUSING TOO MANY RESOURCES ON MERITLESS CLAIMS; OR (3) UNDULY DELAYING THE REVIEW OF CASES AT ANY STAGE OF THE PROCESS.     OVER THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS, MAIP HAS PRIORITIZED THE FIRST GOAL BECAUSE IT NEVER WANTS TO MISS THE CASE OF AN INNOCENT PERSON. THIS HAS RESULTED IN A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF CASES THAT MAIP HAS FLAGGED AS NEEDING SOME ADDITIONAL INVESTIGATION, WHETHER IT IS BY REQUESTING PUBLIC RECORDS, INTERVIEWING WITNESSES, OR OTHER MEANS. EACH OF THESE TASKS CAN TAKE MONTHS OR EVEN YEARS, WHICH HAS MEANT THAT MAIP HAS MORE CASES AT THIS STAGE OF REVIEW THAN IT CAN ADDRESS WITH ITS CURRENT STAFF AND RESOURCES. THIS PROPOSAL AIMS TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM THROUGH STRATEGIES THAT WOULD REDUCE THE EXISTING BACKLOG AND PREVENT IT FROM GROWING IN THE FUTURE.       THIS PROJECT WILL ADDRESS THIS PROBLEM BOTH REACTIVELY AND PROSPECTIVELY BY: (1) INCREASING MAIP’S INVESTIGATIVE RESOURCES SO THE MOST COMPELLING CASES ARE MORE QUICKLY ISOLATED AND MOVED TO LITIGATION; (2) ALLOWING STAFF ATTORNEYS TO FOCUS ON THE MOST PROMISING CASES BY TRANSFERRING DOCUMENT REQUESTS TO MAIP’S NEW FULL-TIME SCREENING MANAGER AND BY HIRING A GRANT-FUNDED PARALEGAL; AND (3) GATHERING AND STUDYING MAIP’S CASE DATA TO SEE WHETHER THERE ARE PREDICTIVE FACTORS THAT CAN BE USED TO MORE ACCURATELY ASSESS INNOCENCE CLAIMS AT AN EARLIER STAGE IN THE CASE-REVIEW PROCESS. BY IMPLEMENTING BOTH REACTIVE AND PROACTIVE SOLUTIONS, MAIP WILL BE ABLE TO SOLVE THIS LONG-TERM PROBLEM AND KEEP IT FROM OCCURRING IN THE FUTURE.

TENNESSEE INNOCENCE PROJECT (TIP) SERVES THE WRONGFULLY CONVICTED THROUGHOUT TENNESSEE AND SEEKS TO CONTINUE CASEWORK THAT HAS BEEN ACCOMPLISHED FROM THE BJA-2021-03612 AWARD, WHICH EMPHASIZED COLLABORATIVE JUSTICE WITH THE DAVIDSON COUNTY/NASHVILLE CONVICTION REVIEW UNIT (CRU). NEW FUNDING WILL COLLABORATIVELY REMEDY THE VOLUMINOUS AND LONG-STANDING INJUSTICES WITNESSED IN SHELBY COUNTY/MEMPHIS, WITH ITS NEW JUSTICE REVIEW UNIT (JRU). TIP GETS MORE APPLICATIONS FROM SHELBY COUNTY THAN ANY OTHER JURISDICTION, AND ANECDOTAL OBSERVATIONS SINCE 2019 SHOW ALARMING RATES OF NEGLIGENCE AND MISCONDUCT WITHIN ITS CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM. TIP SEEKS TO IMPACT RACIAL EQUITY - 101 OF 107 INNOCENCE APPLICATIONS FROM SHELBY COUNTY ARE BLACK. TIPS MISSION IS TO REPRESENT INDIGENT INCARCERATED PEOPLE CONVICTED IN TENNESSEE WHOSE CLAIMS OF INNOCENCE HAVE GONE UNHEARD. IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE DAVIDSON COUNTYS OFFICE OF THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY AND CRU, TIP HAS EXONERATED FOUR PEOPLE SINCE 2021 (THREE ADDITIONAL CASES ARE UNDER REVIEW). TIP USES COLLABORATIVE METHODS DEVELOPED WITH THIS CRU WITH EVERY TENNESSEE PROSECUTORS OFFICEEVEN THOSE WITHOUT A CRU. THIS COLLABORATIVE PROCESS FOCUSES ON TRUTH-SEEKING AND USES RESEARCH-BASED DATA-DRIVEN STRATEGIES FOR JOINT REINVESTIGATIONS. THIS REQUEST SEEKS FUNDING TO FOCUS THOSE COLLABORATIVE JUSTICE EFFORTS IN SHELBY COUNTY/MEMPHIS. SINCE 1989, MORE THAN 3,300 PEOPLE HAVE BEEN EXONERATED IN THE U.S. DESPITE RANKING 18TH IN THE U.S. FOR PRISON POPULATION BY STATE, TENNESSEE ONLY HAS 38 STATE COURT EXONERATIONS (FOUR ACCOMPLISHED BY TIP). THIS NUMBER IS A FRACTION COMPARED TO OTHER STATES WITH WELL-ESTABLISHED INNOCENCE REPRESENTATION AND CRUS. WRONGFUL CONVICTIONS LEAD TO A DISTRUST OF THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM OVERALL, ERODE THE ABILITY TO PROTECT COMMUNITIES, AND LET REAL PERPETRATORS EVADE JUSTICE. THE AVAILABLE LEGAL MECHANISMS FOR OVERTURNING A WRONGFUL CONVICTION IN TENNESSEE ARE EXTREMELY CHALLENGING AND LIMITED. IN A CONTESTED CASE, A PERSONS ACTUAL INNOCENCE CLAIMS MAY BE EASILY THWARTED BASED ON PROCEDURAL DEFAULTS AND LIMITATIONSEITHER BY A DISTRICT ATTORNEY OR JUDGE. BY PARTNERING WITH THE SHELBY COUNTY JRU, TIP CAN FOCUS ON AND ADDRESS THE CRITICAL, SUBSTANTIVE QUESTIONIS THIS PERSON ACTUALLY INNOCENT? THROUGH THE SUCCESS OF THIS PROJECT, TIP SEEKS THREE PRIMARY GOALS: 1) EXONERATE INNOCENT PEOPLE IN SHELBY COUNTY, 2) IDENTIFY PATTERNS AND PRACTICES THAT LED TO WRONGFUL CONVICTIONS, AND 3) PROVE THAT WRONGFUL CONVICTIONS HAPPEN ACROSS TENNESSEE, NOT JUST IN NASHVILLE. TIPS PARTNERSHIP WITH THE DAVIDSON COUNTY CRU SERVED AS A MODEL OF COLLABORATIVE JUSTICE, LEADING TO THE CREATION OF THE SHELBY COUNTY JRU. THESE ARE TRANSFORMATIVE FOR INNOCENCE WORK IN TENNESSEE.

THE PENNSYLVANIA INNOCENCE PROJECT WORKS TO EXONERATE THOSE CONVICTED OF CRIMES THEY DID NOT COMMIT, TO PREVENT INNOCENT PEOPLE FROM BEING PROSECUTED AND CONVICTED, AND TO HELP THOSE WRONGFULLY CONVICTED TRANSITION TO FREEDOM. THE PROJECT REQUESTS THE SUPPORT OF THE BUREAU OF JUSTICE ASSISTANCE IN THE AMOUNT OF $366,131,25 TO ESTABLISH A JUSTICE FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM. THIS PROGRAM WILL BUILD THE CAPACITY OF PROJECT STAFF TO ADDRESS THE REVIEW AND DISPOSITION OF THE ENORMOUS NUMBER OF REQUESTS RECEIVED FROM INCARCERATED INDIVIDUALS WITH CLAIMS OF ACTUAL INNOCENCE. BY PLACING ONE JUSTICE FELLOW IN EACH OF THE PRIMARY LOCATIONS OF PHILADELPHIA AND PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, THE PROJECT WILL STRENGTHEN THE CASE REVIEW PROCESS, ADDRESS BACKLOG, AND MORE SWIFTLY FREE AT LEAST SOME OF THE INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE BEEN LANGUISHING IN PRISON FOR YEARS – SOME FOR DECADES – AS A RESULT OF WRONGFUL CONVICTIONS. THE PROPOSED PROGRAM WILL FURTHER ENHANCE THE PROJECT’S ABILITY TO ADDRESS THE CRUCIAL EDUCATION, REFORM, AND POLICY ASPECTS OF ITS MISSION, AND HELP TRAIN THE NEXT GENERATION OF POST-CONVICTION LAWYERS. THE PENNSYLVANIA INNOCENCE PROJECT IS THE ONLY ESTABLISHED INNOCENCE ORGANIZATION IN THE COMMONWEALTH DEVOTED TO WRONGFUL CONVICTION REVIEW AND POST-CONVICTION LITIGATION. THE PROJECT OPERATES IN A CHALLENGING JURISDICTION: PENNSYLVANIA HAS AMONG THE MOST RESTRICTIVE POST-CONVICTION LAWS IN THIS COUNTRY. SINCE ITS ESTABLISHMENT IN 2009, THE PROJECT HAS RECEIVED MORE THAN 7,000 REQUESTS FOR ASSISTANCE FROM INCARCERATED PERSONS– HUNDREDS EVERY YEAR. IN RECENT YEARS, INCLUDING WITH THE SUPPORT OF A BUREAU OF JUSTICE ASSISTANCE GRANT-FUNDED PROGRAM, THE PROJECT HAS CONDUCTED A STRATEGIC PLANNING PROCESS, CRITICALLY EXAMINED AND SIGNIFICANTLY IMPROVED THE EFFICIENCY OF ITS INTAKE AND CASE SCREENING PROCESS, AND BEEN ABLE TO MOVE CASES THROUGH THE FIRST OF ITS FOUR-STAGE REVIEW PROCESS MORE QUICKLY. HOWEVER, THE NUMBER OF CASES IN THE SCREENING, EVALUATION, INVESTIGATION, AND LITIGATION QUEUES CONTINUES TO MOUNT. THE PROPOSED JUSTICE FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM WILL ADDRESS THE HIGH VOLUME OF CASES WE HAVE IN REVIEW, THE SPEED WITH WHICH WE CAN MOVE CASES THROUGH REVIEW STAGES, AND PERHAPS MOST URGENTLY, THE REDUCTION OF TIME THAT CLIENTS WITH DEMONSTRABLY VALID INNOCENCE CLAIMS REMAIN INCARCERATED WHILE WE PURSUE AVENUES TO RELIEF. THROUGH CAPACITY BUILDING, EVEN IN THIS CHALLENGING STATE, THE PENNSYLVANIA INNOCENCE PROJECT CAN BE A MODEL FOR WRONGFUL CONVICTION REVIEW AND PREVENTION.

GEORGIA INNOCENCE PROJECT FY20 ROL/WCR PROJECT

PARTNERS IN JUSTICE FOR SCIENTIFIC REVIEW

STREAMLINING IDENTIFICATION AND CORRECTION OF WRONGFUL CONVICTIONS IN SOUTHEAST GEORGIA

COLLABORATIVE JUSTICE PROJECT

FLORIDA WRONGFUL CONVICTIONS REVIEW AND BACKLOG REDUCTION PROGRAM

ENHANCING INVESTIGATION METHODS IN POST-CONVICTION CLAIMS OF INNOCENCE

IPMN MINNESOTA CRU - UPHOLDING THE RULE OF LAW AND PREVENTING WRONGFUL CONVICTIONS

REPRESENTATION OF WRONGFULLY CONVICTED DEFENDANTS PROJECT

IDENTIFYING, REMEDYING, AND PREVENTING WRONGFUL CONVICTIONS IN ARKANSAS

MIDWEST INNOCENCE PROJECT'S WYANDOTTE COUNTY WCR

INNOCENCE TEXAS: RIGHTING WRONGFUL CONVICTIONS

COLLABORATIVE JUSTICE IN TENNESSEE

BREAKING NEW GROUND: FINDING AND FREEING THE WRONGFULLY CONVICTED IN NEW HAMPSHIRE

THE NEW ENGLAND INNOCENCE PROJECT

MIDWESTERN INNOCENCE EXPANSION PROJECT

PENNSYLVANIA INNOCENCE PROJECT

INNOCENCE PROJECT OF TEXAS FY 2011

CASE REVIEW AND ACCEPTANCE BACKLOG REDUCTION PROGRAM

NON-DNA INNOCENCE CASE EXPANSION PROGRAM

FINDING INNOCENTS IN RURAL ALASKA

THE PENNSYLVANIA INNOCENCE PROJECT

THE BATON ROUGE PROJECT: RIGHTING PAST WRONGS

FINGERPRINT DATABASE SEARCHES TO PREVENT WRONGFUL CONVICTIONS

ENHANCING INVESTIGATION METHODS IN POST-CONVICTION CLAIMS OF INNOCENCE

BALTIMORE CITY WRONGFUL CONVICTION REVIEW PROGRAM

FINDING INNOCENCE WITH PUBLIC RECORDS

UNITING SCIENCE AND LAW ON BEHALF OF JUSTICE

WRONGFUL PROSECUTION REVIEW PROJECT

MINNESOTA WRONGFUL CONVICTION PROGRAM

BJA FY 12 WRONGFUL CONVICTION REVIEW PROGRAM

STRATEGIES TO IMPROVE CASEWORK OPERATIONAL CHALLENGES IN POST-CONVICTION CLAIMS OF INNOCENCE

BEYOND NEW ORLEANS PROJECT

IPMN WRONGFUL PROSECUTION REVIEW PROJECT

WRONGFUL CONVICTION REVIEW PROGRAM

CONTINUING EXONERATION WORK PROJECT

POST-CONVICTION SCIENTIFIC TESTING FOR ACTUAL INNOCENCE IN GEORGIA AND ALABAMA

ENHANCING INVESTIGATION AND CASE MANAGEMENT IN MTIP POST-CONVICTION CLAIMS OF INNOCENCE

OVERTURNING WRONGFUL CONVICTIONS: THE CASE FOR PENNSYLVANIA

HARRIS COUNTY DNA: CONVICTION INTEGRITY BY SECOND LOOK