John,

Like the majority of the 300 women exonerated in the U.S., Kristine Bunch was wrongfully convicted for a crime that never happened. In 1996, she was convicted of setting a fire that claimed the life of her three-year-old son — something she did not do. Kristine ended up spending 17 years in prison before finally being exonerated with the help of the Center on Wrongful Convictions in 2012. 

Once she got out at the age of 39, she wanted to have another baby, but soon realized that the lack of a comprehensive record of her health and the poor quality of care she received in prison were major barriers in that pursuit.

Take some time to read more about Kristine’s story and then share it with your friends and family online.  

For those who are incarcerated, prison protocols dictate when life-saving and preventative exams are administered — leaving potential health issues undetected and untreated. 

In Kristine’s case, a routine physical after getting out of prison confirmed that she had gone 15 years without a mammogram and pap smear. The doctors she saw were concerned about her health and immediately began ordering tests — and what followed was a series of costly examinations to effectively establish a baseline for her health that she never received in prison.

The toll on her finances was significant, but the emotional impact was immeasurable. Kristine was quickly approaching 40 and trying to navigate having another child was a complex and costly process.

Screening potential sperm donors, undergoing fertility treatments, and enduring the heartbreak of two miscarriages each came with its own emotional and financial strain. 

For Kristine and so many others, it is essential to shed light on the fact that women exonerees are not adequately supported in addressing their health needs post-release. Learn more about her story and then share it with others online to help raise awareness and rectify this oversight.

Thank you so much for your support,

— The Innocence Project Team