Innocence Project

Innocence Project, Inc.
Formation1992; 32 years ago (1992)[1]
Founder
TypeNonprofit organization
32-0077563[2]
Legal status501(c)(3)[2]
Purpose
Headquarters40 Worth Street,
New York, NY 10013
Region
United States
Executive Director
Christina Swarns[3]
Jack Taylor[4]
AffiliationsThe Innocence Network
Revenue (2020)
$21,373,256[5]: 1 
Expenses (2020)$15,944,005[5]: 1 
Endowment$21,620,304 (2020)[5]: 33 
Employees (2020)
91[5]: 1 
Volunteers (2020)
22[5]: 1 
Websiteinnocenceproject.org

Innocence Project, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit legal organization that works to exonerate the wrongly convicted through DNA testing and other forms of post-conviction relief, as well as advocate for criminal justice reform to prevent future injustice.[1][6] The group cites various studies estimating that in the United States between 1% and 10% of all prisoners are innocent.[7][8][9][10] The Innocence Project was founded in 1992 by Barry Scheck and Peter Neufeld who gained national attention in the mid-1990s as part of the "Dream Team" of lawyers who formed part of the defense in the O. J. Simpson murder case.[11]

As of 2021, the Innocence Project has helped to successfully overturn over 300 convictions through DNA-based exonerations.[12][13] In 2021, Innocence Project received the biennial Milton Friedman Prize for Advancing Liberty by Cato Institute, awarded in recognition and gratitude for its work to ensure liberty and justice for all.[14] In March 2022, The Innocence Project won two Webby Awards for its Happiest Moments video, winning the Best Humanitarian & Services campaign in both the brand and non-profit categories. Happiest Moments was the organization's first-ever public service announcement that premiered in June 2021 and was produced by Hayden5.[15][16]

  1. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference about was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ a b "Innocence Project Inc. (within Search for Tax Exempt Organizations)". Internal Revenue Service. Retrieved August 11, 2021.
  3. ^ "Staff - Christina Swarns". Innocence Project.
  4. ^ "Board of Directors - Jack Taylor". Innocence Project.
  5. ^ a b c d e "2020 Form 990 for Innocence Project Inc. (within Search for Tax Exempt Organizations)". Internal Revenue Service. Retrieved August 11, 2021.
  6. ^ "Innocence Project - Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP". www.weil.com. Retrieved June 5, 2023.
  7. ^ Grisham, John (March 14, 2018). "Why the innocent end up in prison". Chicago Tribune.
  8. ^ Haavik, Emily (May 31, 2021). "How many innocent people are in U.S. prisons, and why can't we find them?". KARE11.
  9. ^ Schwartzapfel, Beth; Levintova, Hannah (December 12, 2011). "How Many Innocent People Are in Prison?". Mother Jones.
  10. ^ "How many innocent people are there in prison?". Innocence Project. December 12, 2011. Retrieved September 13, 2018.
  11. ^ "The Innocence Project". Crime Museum. Retrieved June 5, 2023.
  12. ^ Laporte, Gerald M (September 7, 2017). "Wrongful Convictions and DNA Exonerations: Understanding the Role of Forensic Science". National Institute of Justice.
  13. ^ Cite error: The named reference DNA Exonerations was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  14. ^ "Cato Institute Awards 2021 Milton Friedman Prize to the Innocence Project". Cato Institute. 2021. Retrieved July 16, 2021.
  15. ^ Top Spot of the Week: Hayden5 Captures "Happiest Moments," First-Ever PSA For The Innocence Project at Shoot Online; by Robert Goldrich; published July 2, 2021; retrieved May 20, 2022
  16. ^ The Innocence Project's first PSA captures the ‘Happiest Moments’ at Campaign US; by Mariah Cooper; published July 6, 2021; retrieved May 20, 2022