Colorado Bans the Death Penalty

Last week, Gov. Jared Polis abolished the death penalty in Colorado and commuted the sentences of the three people still on death row. Prior to the announcement, Colorado had not executed anyone since 1997 and has had a governor-issued moratorium on executions since 2013. According to the Death Penalty Information Center, 167 innocent people have been exonerated from death row across the country since 1973. We know that capital punishment is racially discriminatory, fiscally irresponsible and puts innocent lives at risk — Gov. Polis made the right decision and we applaud him, the legislature and the advocates who fought to make this happen. ⁠Learn more about this here and learn the latest on our client Rodney Reed who maintains his innocence on Texas' death row.

Paul Hildwin walking out of Hernando County jail on March 9, 2020 greeted by Lyann Goudie (left) of Goudie & Kohn, P.A and Kate O'Shea (right), an investigator. Photo by Anthony Scott/Florida Innocence Project.

"What a time to come out of prison — right when that coronavirus hits"

In March, Paul Hildwin, an Innocence Project client, walked out of prison as a free person for the first time in 35 years, including 29 years on death row. Just a couple weeks into freedom, Paul is adjusting to life outside of prison and trying to stay healthy during the COVID-19 crisis. Read how Paul, age 60 and a four-time cancer survivor, is managing life outside of prison for the first time in three decades.

Darrill Henry and his son Darrill Guitroz. Photo by the Innocence Project.

Darrill Henry Wins a New Trial

In 2004, Darrill Henry, an Innocence Project client, was accused of murder in New Orleans, Louisiana. He has always maintained his innocence in the murders of an 89-year-old woman and her 67-year-old daughter. And the results of modern DNA testing recently performed on evidence from under the mother’s fingernails excluded Darrill as a match, clearly proving his innocence.

Based on these results, Judge Dennis Waldron overturned Darrill’s double murder conviction on March 12, and ordered a new trial.

Darrill is now awaiting his new trial at the Louisiana State Penitentiary — known as Angola prison — which has suspended all visits for at least a month in light of the coronavirus pandemic, according to officials. Read more about Darrill's story and send him an uplifting message.

An immigration detainee sits in a high security unit at the Theo Lacy Facility, a county jail, in Orange County, California. Photo by: Robyn Beck/AFP via Getty Images.

The Coronavirus Has Reached Jails and Prisons

Hundreds of people incarcerated in the U.S. have now tested positive for COVID-19. And experts, advocates, and those who work in the prison system expect the virus to spread like “wildfire” once someone in a facility becomes infected, yet they are unable to follow certain Centers for Disease Control and Prevention sanitary measures.

The Innocence Project has advocated for the release of as many people as possible to help reduce the number that could be impacted by COVID-19 outbreaks behind bars and has advocated for access to COVID-19 testing, prevention and medical care for those who remain incarcerated. We've put together a list of how you can help people in prison.

⠀⠀How you can help ⠀⠀

What to Watch While You’re Social Distancing

As people around the world are wisely practicing social distancing to help slow the coronavirus pandemic, many are turning to streaming platforms to keep themselves entertained and educated. We've put together a list of criminal justice films and shows for you to watch.

Watch list

We Want to Hear From You

In one way or another, we have all been touched by this pandemic, whether that means working from home or working on the frontlines. But for incarcerated people, formerly incarcerated people and their loved ones, the coronavirus has had a unique impact — and we want to hear directly from you how it’s changed your life.

How has the pandemic and the measures taken to help combat COVID-19 impacted your life and the lives of your friends and family? Are you unable to see your incarcerated loved one because visitations have been suspended? Are you working on the frontlines of the effort to fight the pandemic? Has the virus posed additional challenges to your everyday life?

Share your story

Exonerations Around the U.S.

Northern California Innocence Project client Ricky Davis was exonerated after nearly 12 years.

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The Innocence Project exonerates the wrongly convicted through DNA testing and reforms the criminal justice system to prevent future injustice.
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