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Four ways to get involved and help the innocence project 

The innocence project helps free innocent men and women. They exonerate those wrongfully convicted through DNA testing while reforming the criminal justice system to prevent future injustice.

A social work department is provided to help support the exonerated as they rebuild their lives after their release. The social department reaches out before the release is initiated to make sure the freed have housing, family contacts, birth certificates and much more.

Here is how you can help the innocence project as they help free innocent men and women.

1.    Join to help win reforms in 2020

If you want to stay updated on campaigns and other updates on the innocence project website there is a form that can be filled out and submitted. It asks for your name, number, and email. After filling out the form, you are able to share the form on Twitter and Facebook to spread awareness.

2. Get an exoneree to speak at your school or workplace

the Speakers’ Bureau is made up of former Innocence Project clients and staff members who are now public speakers and want to spread the message of the innocence project and their stories. The Innocence Project connects its speakers to high schools, colleges, and corporations. They work with both parties to find the best fit. The public speaking that is offered could help not only students but adults realize the massive amount of innocent people that are incarcerated every day.

3. learn more about the causes of wrongful convictions 

One of the top reasons a person gets wrongfully convicted is false confessions. more than 360 wrongful convictions overturned by DNA evidence involved some form of a false confession. Most times some may think why would anyone admit to a crime they did not commit? Here are a few reasons why:

·       Use of force by law enforcement during the interrogation

·       perceived threat of force

·       Compromised reasoning ability of the suspect, due to exhaustion, stress, hunger, substance use, and, in some cases, mental limitations, or limited education. 

4. volunteer opportunities

If you’re now wondering how you can put forth your efforts and help in the process of freeing those who are wrongfully convicted, there is a volunteer form that can be filled out on their website. Most volunteer opportunities will be in offices helping with paperwork. On the volunteer application, you’ll be asked for contact information, skills, interest, work and education background, and any professional services you can provide. Donations are also accepted to help fund the exoneration process.

If you would like to read more about specific cases and how the innocence project helps exonerate the wrongfully convicted head over to All Cases and read individual stories of those who got a second chance.