Mission
THE INNOCENCE PROJECT, INC. (IP) IS A NATIONAL NONPROFIT WITH THE MISSION TO FREE INNOCENT PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN WRONGLY CONVICTED AND REFORM THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM TO PREVENT FUTURE INJUSTICE. THE IP HAS HELPED EXONERATE OVER 251 PEOPLE, A DISPROPORTIONATE NUMBER OF WHOM ARE PEOPLE OF COLOR AND SOME WHO WERE SENTENCED TO DEATH. CUMULATIVELY, THEY SPENT THOUSANDS OF YEARS IN PRISON FOR CRIMES THEY DID NOT COMMIT, AND IN MANY CASES, THE PERSON WHO ACTUALLY COMMITTED THE CRIME WENT ON TO COMMIT OTHERS. THE IP IS DEDICATED TO RESEARCHING, ANALYZING AND EDUCATING STAKEHOLDERS AND THE PUBLIC ON THE CAUSES AND CONSEQUENCES OF WRONGFUL CONVICTIONS AND OTHER SYSTEMIC PROBLEMS. THE IP WORKS TO PASS LAWS AND PREVENT THE ADMISSIBILITY OF UNRELIABLE, NON-SCIENTIFIC EVIDENCE TO PREVENT FUTURE MISCARRIAGES OF JUSTICE. FOUNDED IN 1992 AS A CLINIC AT CARDOZO SCHOOL OF LAW AT YESHIVA UNIVERSITY, THE IP INCORPORATED AS A 501(C)3 ORGANIZATION IN 2004, THOUGH IT MAINTAINS AN AFFILIATION WITH CARDOZO.