CIP Client Roeling Adams Paroled After 28 Years Behind Bars

Today, CIP client Roeling Adams walked out of San Quentin State Prison after 28 years in prison.  Adams was wrongfully convicted of a shooting in 1986, despite providing an alibi at trial.  The main witness against Roeling at his trial subsequently recanted his...

Death Penalty Infographic

Below is another Death Penalty Infographic sent over to us.  Given the 4% figure released yesterday, Texas should have granted clemency to more than 20 innocent people (not just 2).  The only way the US will find itself off the “Top 5 Countries” list is if...

New Study: Death Row Sentences Likely Include 4% Innocent People

We have long thought about how frequent wrongful convictions are occurring in this country. A recent study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences conservatively pinned death row wrongful convictions at just over 4%. The percentage exonerated...

2013 Exoneration Infographic

Check out this infographic detailing exonerations from 2013 (courtesy of the National Registry of Exonerations):

The U.S. Prison System – Why We Need Reform

This article expresses the opinion of Michael Semanchik, a staff attorney at the California Innocence Project. It is solely his opinion. Most of us at CIP spend a lot of time in prison visiting clients, witnesses, and potential clients claiming innocence. Over the...

California Steps Up for the Wrongfully Convicted

SB 618 means exonerees can get compensated more easily than ever before California took a brave step forward this weekend after Governor Jerry Brown signed into law California Senate Bill 618, which provides much-needed changes to its crippled compensation process for...

Justin Brooks Recognized by BWL-Los Angeles

On September 20, 2013, the Black Women Lawyers Association of Los Angeles (BWL) honored CIP Director Justin Brooks with their Foot Soldier Award.  A group of African-American attorneys and judges formed the group in 1975 to address the marked absence of an...

Justice Delayed Is Justice Denied

Once again the justice system responded too slow to address a wrongful conviction.  On August 27, 2013, the Center on Wrongful Convictions learned their client, Anthony McKinney, died in prison while awaiting a hearing on his innocence claim.  In 2008, McKinney...

Brian Banks Plays First NFL Game Tonight

Tonight is the night CIP client Brian Banks has been working toward for a long time.  He will make his NFL debut with the Atlanta Falcons as they face the Bengals (ESPN 5:00 West Coast Time). Keep your fingers crossed that he plays well and makes the final 53 man...