Dear John,

Imagine missing your child’s first steps, teaching them how to ride a bike, watching them graduate from high school, or walking them down the aisle on their wedding day.

That’s sadly the story of so many wrongfully convicted fathers who have lost decades of necessary bonding with their children. Norberto Peets, for example, was incarcerated for 26 years for a crime he didn’t commit, missing his children’s entire childhoods. At the time of his arrest in 1996, his son and daughter were just 5 and 2 years old, respectively. 

So ahead of Father’s Day, we’re inviting you to send a special note to Norberto and other wrongfully convicted and exonerated fathers to let them know how much you admire their strength and courage in the face of this unspeakable injustice. 

These fathers include Jabar Walker, who wrongly spent more than two decades in prison and will finally be spending his first Father’s Day with his daughters; and Leonard Mack, who was wrongly convicted for 47 years and has been making up for lost time with his son and grandson.  

While their stories are incredibly heartbreaking, they reflect the power of love, resilience, and commitment to family. 

Please, take a moment to send a note to honor and support these wrongfully convicted fathers.

Thank you so much for your support,

— The Innocence Project Team