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Here’s what’s been going on at the Innocence Project this month.
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(Image: Tingey Injury Law Firm / Unsplash)
Why the Trial Penalty Must Go
The Sixth Amendment enshrines the right to trial for anyone accused of a crime. Yet, in America today, less than 3% of criminal cases ever make it to trial. Innocence Project executive director, Christina Swarns, examines what’s known as the trial penalty — the practice of offering more lenient sentences in exchange for a guilty plea before trial while promising (and imposing) severe sentences after a conviction at trial. Take a moment to read more about the trial penalty, how we got here, and how we can advance truly transformational reforms.
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 Damien Echols, one of the West Memphis Three, participates in a photo call and press conference for the film “West of Memphis” at TIFF Bell Lightbox during the Toronto International Film Festival on Saturday Sept. 8, 2012 in Toronto. (Image: Evan Agostini/Invision/AP)
West Memphis Three: What You Should Know About Their Wrongful Conviction
In 1993, teenagers Damien Echols, Jason Baldwin, and Jessie Misskelley were arrested for the murders of three 8-year-old boys in West Memphis, Arkansas. Although no physical evidence or motive tied them to the crime, the teens — who became known as the West Memphis Three — were all convicted and one, Damien Echols, was sentenced to death. But in 2007, DNA from all of the crime scene evidence was tested and excluded all three men, instead detecting the DNA of another man, who could not be identified at the time. All three men were offered a plea deal in exchange for their release in 2011. But the fight to clear their names is not over. Please take a moment to read more about the West Memphis Three and learn how you can support their
efforts to get justice.
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 Rodney Reed photo montage. Dec 2020.
Texas Court of Criminal Appeals Rejects Rodney Reed Petitions Despite Strong Innocence, Prosecutorial Misconduct Claims
Last week, the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals (CCA) denied Rodney Reed’s motion for habeas relief and a new trial, rejecting overwhelming evidence supporting his innocence and demonstrating prosecutorial misconduct. While we are devastated by this ruling, we know the fight to save Rodney is not over — and we won’t give up. Please read more about Rodney’s case and see what his legal team had to say after this decision came down.
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 Richard Glossip who remains on Oklahoma’s death row.
Richard Glossip: Facing Execution in Oklahoma Despite Strong Innocence Claim
For the last 25 years, Richard Glossip has been on death row in Oklahoma, despite mounting evidence of his innocence. Richard was convicted of the 1997 murder of Barry Van Treese, even though it is undisputed that a man named Justin Sneed actually committed the crime. His conviction was based almost entirely on false statements made by Justin, who has since recanted his testimony and admitted to lying about Richard’s involvement in the murder. Everything about this case is a harrowing example of how the justice system can fail an innocent person — but Richard hasn’t given up his fight for freedom. Less than two weeks before his most recent execution date of May 18, 2023, the U.S. Supreme Court stepped in and granted him a stay of execution. Please take a moment to read more about Richard’s case and learn how you can support him in his fight for justice.
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Exonerations Around the U.S.
Pennsylvania Innocence Project client William Johnson was exonerated on June 8, 2023 after serving 18 years wrongfully incarcerated; Exoneration Project client Joseph Janke was exonerated on June 26, 2023 after serving 35 years wrongfully incarcerated; Boston College Innocence Program client William Cascone was exonerated on June 27, 2023 after serving 10 years wrongfully incarcerated.
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