The Innocence Project
This organization began in 1992 and helps to exonerate those who were wrongfully convicted by using DNA and tries to prevent future injustices (innocenceproject.org). The website has areas where you can read about their exonerations. The organization describes how they use full-time staff attorneys and Cardozo law students to help with the cases (innocenceproject.org). This organization also has a special department (The Strategic Litigation department) that addresses the causes of wrongful convictions through the courts and our legal system so that they can prevent these injustices (innocenceproject.org). The innocence project also has a policy department that works with Congress and state legislatures to address the contributors of wrongful convictions (innocenceproject.org). The website also offers a section where you can sign up for news letters to remain informed on the organization’s progress and a section where you can donate to their cause.
The Exoneration Initiative
This organization is non-profit and focuses on helping those who were wrongfully convicted in New York, focusing on cases that do not have DNA evidence (exonerationinitiative.org). The organization’s website tells us that less than 10% of cases have DNA evidence to test to it is important to focus on the other cases that need assistance but lack the DNA evidence. The Exoneration Initiative explains how cases that do not involve DNA often take longer, are more complicated and more expensive. When deciding on whether or not they should take a case, they look at whether the individual has compelling evidence of innocence (exonerationinitiative.org). The organization focuses on evidence that is weak and can be proven unreliable (like eyewitness misidentification) and then once this information is received, the organization looks for new evidence of the defendant’s innocence (exonerationinitiative.org). This organization uses the help of Brooklyn Law school students, volunteer attorney’s and litigation by exoneration initiative attorneys (exonerationinitiative.org).
The Deskovic Foundation
This organization fights for those who have been wrongfully convicted for cases involving DNA and cases that do not involve DNA (deskovicfoundation.org). This foundation was named after Jeffrey Deskovic who at the age of 17 was accused of raping and murdering a 15-year-old girl, who was later found to be wrongfully convicted (deskovicfoundation.org). This foundation is based in New York. The foundation uses investigative work such as: reviewing court files and evidence presented at trail, transcripts, police reports, alternative suspects, and more (deskovicfoundation.org). They also look at forensic fraud, lab reports, expert witnesses without proper credentials and try to interview new witnesses that did not originally testify, and when possible use DNA testing (deskovicfoundation.org). This website also accepts donations from the public to help aid their fight for these injustices.