wrongfulconvictionsnews@gmail.com

Announcing the launching of our "2023 Project Free the Innocent: Journey to Justice"

I am often asked, "What can I do to help stop wrongful convictions and/or help those already wrongfully convicted?" This year we invite you to join us for our 2023 Project Free the Innocent: Journey to Justice. We will be dedicated to offering as many modalities as possible for you to contribute to raising awareness about wrongful convictions, exposing injustice, and/or furthering your own case or one for which you advocate.—Liz Franklin, Founding Director, Wrongful Convictions News™

To that end, are compiling a treasure trove of resources to help you with such things as:

  • Where and how you can volunteer 
  • What to do if you or a family member/loved one has a brush with law enforcement and other legal situations
  • Where and how to get the information you need to advance your own case or one that you advocate

Plus tons of how-tos, all cataloged here in one place.

Here's just a hand full of the resources already on the list of the modalities that we will be exploring. However, in order to do this properly, we are asking for your help. From now until Wrongful Conviction Day on October 2nd, we will be compiling resources that we feel will help those who are trying to navigate their way through their journey to justice. Whether it be legal help, help with law enforcement, how to hire the right attorney for your case, an awesome investigator, a online Bible study group, or how to volunteer hands on, remotely or financially, etc. If it is a resource that you recommend (and perferably have first hand knowledge with) we want to hear from you. You can easily recommend a resource by clicking here. 

How to write an effective clemency request letter. 

How to contact the right people and what communication mode is best. Also, what's the best way to follow up. 

First impressions are everything. How long should your first contact be—or rather, how short? 

A ½ page of attention-getting facts or a lifelong manifesto—which one do you think an intake specialist is more likely to read and which one will be read st?

https://www.findlaw.com/criminal/criminal-legal-help/district-attorneys.html#:~:text=A%20lawyer%20who%20represents%20the,state%20in%20civil%20cases%2C%20but

What to do if you, a family member, and/or a family member with disabilities or special needs are ever detained by law enforcement. 

How to become a proactive advocate. 

Give the person you champion the best you have, whatever your situation may be.

How to create an official Innocence Club at your high school or college/university, click here.

As an innocence club, one of your primary functions is to educate and raise awareness in your community about wrongful convictions and actual innocence. 

How to successfully use social media to further your WC cause. 

Check out the WCN Report

How to determine if there was jury misconduct at play. 

This is a good resource for those who feel they're out of options. It can get you back in court...which should be your ultimate goal.

How to create and/or host a successful speaking engagement/guest lecture, presentation, rally, protest, fundraiser, etc.

The Registry provides detailed information about every known exoneration in the United States since 1989—

cases in which a person was wrongly convicted of a crime and later cleared of all the charges based on new evidence of innocence.

Raising awareness.

Join or organize a Rally.

Above all, PRAY! Make your own prayer list for those you see fighting for their freedom in Wrongful Convictions News™ and other platforms.

Click here for our partner resource Justice through Prayer™.

A one stop shop for all that is the death penalty. Check out The Death Penalty Census for DPIC's effort to identify and document every death sentence imposed in the United States since the United States Supreme Court decided Furman v. Georgia in 1972. The Census currently lists more than 9,700 sentences imposed between 1972 and January 1, 2021, click here.

How to manage your way through the FOIA to request the documents you need for your case. 

Muckrock is a non-profit that provides a repository of hundreds of thousands of pages of original government materials, information on how to file requests, and tools to make the requesting process easier.

The Exoneration Project (EP) provides free legal services to fight for the wrongfully convicted and free the innocent. 

The Exoneration Project is one of the best-funded, largest, and most successful innocence projects in the country.

Donate funding or become a supporter.

Most organizations having to do with wrongful convictions are non-profits and as such they are all usually in much need of funding. You can donate directly or attend their annual fund raiser.

One of the most important actions you can take to help stop wrongful convictions is to do your homework before you vote.

Decide who you are going to vote for before you go, especially for the positions of District Attorneys and Judges. Two elected officials many people don't do much research on but could one day be a matter of life or death to you or a loved one.

We incorporate the interrelated and imperative concepts of healing and justice to address the widespread harm caused by systemic failures that result in wrongful convictions. Click here...

History demonstrates that people are capable of extraordinary things when they have the freedom and opportunity to learn, contribute, and succeed.

But too often, barriers of all kinds stand in the way of people realizing their potential. By supporting and inspiring social entrepreneurs, we empower the people who break these barriers so that every person can live a life of meaning and purpose.

The Police Scorecard is the first nationwide public evaluation of law enforcement.

The Scorecard calculates levels of police violence, accountability, racial bias and other policing outcomes covering nearly 100% of the US population.

Audit the Audit sorts out the who and what and the right and wrong of police interactions.

They explore the laws, regulations, and violations showcased in first amendment audits, police interactions, and legislation.

Click here and start typing. Illo inventore veritatis et quasi architecto beatae vitae dicta sunt explicabo nemo enim ipsam voluptatem.

Volunteer.

Can You Recant Your Confession?

Anyone who makes a statement to the police has the option of retracting or recanting such testimony. However, there are limits. 

FOIA

The Brennan Center for Justice is a nonpartisan law and policy institute.

We strive to uphold the values of democracy. We stand for equal justice and the rule of law. We work to craft and advance reforms that will make American democracy work, for all.