The Innocence Project is a non-profit organization that works to exonerate innocent prisoners through post-conviction DNA testing and to develop and implement policy changes to prevent wrongful convictions and reform the criminal justice system. To strengthen forensic science, the Innocence Project educates judges, lawyers, forensic experts, and other system actors about the limitations of certain forensic methods, and encourages them to examine scientific evidence to verify its accuracy and reliability. In order to gain a better understanding of why wrongful convictions occur, the Innocence Project has revised its definition of cases involving forensic problems. Rather than broadly defining this category as limited, unreliable, or fraudulent forensic science, the organization now focuses on unvalidated or inadequate forensic science.
This allows for a more detailed examination of each case and helps to identify potential issues that can be avoided in the future. The Innocence Project relies on the hard work of forensic scientists who find, collect, preserve, test, and analyze evidence that proves the innocence of their clients. Timely and reliable laboratory results are essential for the success of the Innocence Project and Innocence Network. The position also includes work related to the development of responses to forensic science standards and other technical documents that are published for public review.
The Innocence Project also advocates for increased funding for federal forensic science programs such as the Bloodsworth Post-Conviction DNA Testing Grant Program and the Coverdell Forensic Science Improvement Grant Program. These programs help ensure that innocent individuals are identified by providing support for crime laboratories and the forensic tests they perform. In addition, the Innocence Project wishes to recognize the challenges that forensic science service providers in Texas and Florida have faced as a result of hurricanes Harvey and Irma. By entering your phone number, you agree to receive periodic text messages from the Innocence Project. The Innocence Project analyzes each DNA exoneration to determine what factors contributed to the wrongful conviction and how the criminal justice system can be improved in the future.
It is important for us to understand why these cases occur so that we can work together to prevent them from happening again.
