The Innocence Project: Freeing the Innocent
The Innocence Project has freed over 230 wrongfully convicted people—many from death row. Here's how they fight for the innocent.
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What Is the Innocence Project?
Founded in 1992 by Barry Scheck and Peter Neufeld at Cardozo Law School. Mission: Exonerate the wrongfully convicted through DNA testing and reform the system to prevent future injustice.
How They Work
- Review thousands of requests for help
- Focus on cases where DNA could prove innocence
- Limited resources mean difficult choices
- Locate biological evidence from original case
- Use modern DNA techniques unavailable at trial
- Compare to crime scene and alternative suspects
- File motions for DNA testing (often opposed by prosecutors)
- Present results to courts
- Navigate appeals process
- Work toward exoneration or new trial
The Impact
- 230+ exonerations
- 21 average years served
- 17 death row exonerees
- Countless lives rebuilt
- Evidence preservation
- Access to DNA testing
- Recording of interrogations
- Eyewitness identification reforms
Famous Innocence Project Cases
Kirk Bloodsworth
First death row inmate exonerated by DNA (1993). Now an advocate for the innocent.
Darryl Hunt
19 years for a murder he didn't commit. Became an activist before his death.
Damon Thibodeaux
Louisiana death row, exonerated 2012. Both prosecution and defense agreed he was innocent.
How to Help
- Donate to the Innocence Project
- Support criminal justice reform
- Stay informed about wrongful conviction issues