Innocence Project

The Innocence Project partners with the Pennsylvania Innocence Project and the Georgetown University Prisons and Justice Initiative to work to exonerate those convicted of crimes they did not commit and to prevent innocent people from being convicted.

What we do:

There is growing awareness that various deficiencies in our justice system have led to the incarceration of innocent people. After exhausting their appeals, exoneration organizations are often convicted the last chance for freedom. The Innocence Project works with convicted individuals who have exhausted all appellate proceedings, meaning that they are past the post-conviction relief stage and can take no further steps. Volunteers assess wrongful conviction claims, read through the evidence and transcripts from trials, write memos, and make recommendations regarding the merits of the case for the Project to begin advocating for the client.

How we do it:

New volunteers typically begin with a stage two review. The stage two review involves analyzing a potential client’s case and making a recommendation concerning his or her innocence and the likelihood of new evidence or testimony.

Who we work with:

The Innocence Project works with convicted individuals who have exhausted all appellate proceedings, meaning that they are past the post-conviction relief stage and can take no further steps.

How and when can I join:

Interested applicants can complete an application in the Fall semester. If you have questions, please email Innocence Project’s Director of Training and Recruitment Jessica Scoratow (jscor@pennlaw.upenn.edu) and Executive Director Leigh Bianchi (lbia@pennlaw.upenn.edu).

What skills will I develop:

Appellate advocacy, client counseling, criminal justice, draft court pleadings, interviewing & intake, investigation, legal analysis, legal writing, working with vulnerable clients.

The work is likely to be New York Bar eligible.