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Here’s what’s been going on at the Innocence Project this month.
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Albert Woodfox at Lake Pontchartrain in New Orleans, February 2021. (Image: William Widmer for the Innocence Project)
53 Years Later: Hear the Extraordinary Story of Albert Woodfox’s Life After Solitary Confinement
On a cold February day in 2016, Albert Woodfox walked free after nearly 45 years behind bars, most of them spent in solitary confinement. At 69, he was finally released after his conviction was overturned three times. Though he never admitted guilt, he agreed to a plea deal to secure his immediate freedom.
Despite the injustice and hardship he endured, Mr. Woodfox's spirit wasn't broken. A former Black Panther, he was an activist who strongly believed in humanity and was deeply influenced by his mother Ruby Edwards. He emerged from prison not only a free person, but also as a living testament to resilience and the fight for justice.
Learn more about Albert's story.
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Malcolm X Died 59 Years Ago. Two Innocent Men Endured 42 of Them in Jail.
After 55 years of bearing the burden of a crime they did not commit, Muhammad Aziz and Khalil Islam’s names were cleared.
Mr. Aziz and Mr. Islam were sentenced to life in prison for the murder of civil rights leader, Malcolm X, based on unreliable eyewitness testimony and suppressed evidence. Despite maintaining their innocence and presenting powerful alibis, they endured decades of incarceration and separation from their families.
“The assassination of Malcolm X was a historic event that demanded a scrupulous investigation and prosecution but, instead, produced one of the most blatant miscarriages of justice that I have ever seen,” said Barry Scheck, co-founder of the Innocence Project and Special Counsel.
For a deeper look at the resilience of these two men, watch the firsthand account of the events, trial, and aftermath in ABC News’ X/onerated: The Murder of Malcolm X & 55 Years to Justice, now streaming on Hulu.
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Image: (Kathleen Crosby/Innocence Project)
Artificial Intelligence Is Putting Innocent People at Risk of Being Incarcerated
There are at least seven confirmed cases of misidentification related to the use of facial recognition technology, six of which involve Black people who have been wrongfully accused. The use of artificial intelligence, and unvalidated and unreliable tools like FRT, by law enforcement is cause for concern.
Last year, the Biden administration issued an executive order to set standards and manage the risk of AI including a standard to develop “tools, and tests to help ensure that AI systems are safe, secure, and trustworthy.” However, there are no federal policies currently in place to regulate the use of AI in policing.
In the meantime, there are ways for concerned community members to influence and encourage local leaders to regulate the use of these technologies by local law enforcement and other agencies. Do you have 5 minutes to read more from the Innocence Project about how A.I. impacts the risk of wrongful convictions?
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Perry Lott at the 2022 Innocence Network Conference in Arizona. (Image: Kenny Karpov/Innocence Project)
Perry Lott Is Ready to Love Again
Here at the Innocence Project, we’ve seen time and again that wrongful conviction not only robs people of their freedom but robs them of their hopes and dreams for the future — including the possibility of finding someone to share their life with.
Exoneree Perry Lott was convicted of rape in 1987 and entered prison as a young man. In 2018, he was released, but, by then, he was older, grayer, and had missed out on falling in love and raising children. Still, he remains optimistic about his chances of finding a connection, just like so many others who’ve been through this harrowing experience.
“I’ve come through a lot of things,” Mr. Lott said. “And after all of those victories I would hate to pass away not having any of that mean anything to anyone.”
Click here to read more about Perry Lott’s search for a meaningful connection.
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 (Image: Duncan Shaffer/Unsplash)
Editorial: Justice Delayed is Democracy Denied
True democracy requires fairness and accountability in the criminal legal system. Government overreach, police and prosecutorial misconduct, inadequate defense, and racial bias undermine the rule of law and play a significant role in wrongful convictions. Candidates for elected office must make a clear and unequivocal commitment to the rule of law or these issues will continue to undermine the integrity of the system and, indeed, our democracy.
As John Lewis powerfully reminded us, “Democracy is not a state. It is an act, and each generation must do its part to help build what we called the Beloved Community, a nation and world society at peace with itself.” That admonition is particularly salient this, and every, election year.
Read more from Innocence Project’s executive director Christina Swarns on, what true democracy requires — especially as it relates to the criminal legal system.
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Exonerations Around the U.S.
Tennessee Innocence Project client Artis Whitehead was exonerated on January 31, 2024, after serving 21 years wrongfully incarcerated. Center on Wrongful Convictions client Thomas Kelly was exonerated on the same day after serving 25 years wrongfully incarcerated, as was North Carolina Center on Actual Innocence client Timothy Evans after serving 17 years wrongfully incarcerated.
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