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Reporters interviewing Mallory Nicholson in the courthouse
Kenneth Hovland
Photos of Muhammad A. Aziz and Khalil Islam
Muhammad Aziz and his family
Close up of Anthony Dixon
Barry Jacobson
Michael Monroe and his family
Close up of Philip Barnett

We Who Believe in Freedom Cannot Rest

Hear From Our Executive Director

Restoring Freedom

Last year, we helped free or exonerate nine clients while continuing to help former clients rebuild their lives post-release.

We also partnered with co-counsel, community leaders, advocates, and activists to stop the execution of Pervis Payne in November 2021. Additionally, in January 2022, we joined Melissa Lucio’s legal team and helped develop evidence of her innocence, which successfully led to a stay of her execution in April 2022, just two days before she was set to be executed.

Since our inception, we have pioneered the use of DNA technology to unequivocally prove innocence. In cases where DNA evidence was no longer available or where our attorneys uncovered other new evidence of innocence (from misapplied forensic methods to police and prosecutorial misconduct), we secured our clients’ freedom based on new non-DNA evidence. Recognizing that DNA evidence is only available in a limited number of cases and that the overwhelming majority of the nation’s more than 3,200 proven wrongful convictions were obtained with non-DNA evidence, we plan to widen the scope of cases we accept to intentionally include more non-DNA cases.

Close up of Ron Jacobsen
Philip Barnett and his lawyers
Photo of Kenneth Hovland
Photos of Muhammad A. Aziz and Khalil Islam
Close up of Anthony Dixon
Michael Monroe and his family
Barry Jacobson
Mallory Nicholson and his family
Our Freed & Exonerated Clients
  • Ron Jacobsen

    Exonerated: August 2021
    Close up of Ron Jacobsen

    Ron Jacobsen was wrongly convicted of a 1990 abduction and rape in Covington, Georgia, despite the fact he was 200 miles away when the crime occurred. Although post-conviction DNA testing confirmed that he was not the person who committed the crime and his conviction was vacated in 2019, the prosecutor vowed to retry him. In November 2020, he was released on bail. He moved back to his native New York, where he lived under home confinement with his older sister. He was officially exonerated in August 2021, when the district attorney’s office finally dropped all charges against him. Mr. Jacobsen was represented by the Innocence Project and Georgia Innocence Project.

  • Philip Barnett

    Exonerated: October 2021
    Philip Barnett and his lawyers

    In 2008, Philip Barnett, along with his brother Nathan and two other co-defendants, was wrongly convicted of the murder of a young woman in Cabell County, West Virginia. After the state’s Supreme Court ordered a new trial for the Barnett brothers in 2010, the two accepted a plea deal that allowed them to maintain their innocence and receive a lesser sentence. DNA testing of crime scene evidence ultimately proved the four individuals’ innocence. Philip Barnett was represented by the Innocence Project and Weston Robertson.

  • Kenneth Hovland

    Freed: October 2021
    Photo of Kenneth Hovland

    Kenneth Hovland was just 21 years old when he was wrongly convicted of the 1981 murder of a teenager in Lynwood, Washington. His conviction was based on a false confession and unreliable forensic methods that included bite marks, hair microscopy, and fiber “matching.” In October 2021, he was released following negotiations with the prosecutor’s office. The Washington Innocence Project currently represents him, with support from the Innocence Project.

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  • Muhammad A. Aziz and Khalil Islam

    Exonerated: November 2021
    Photos of Muhammad A. Aziz and Khalil Islam

    Muhammad A. Aziz and the late Khalil Islam were wrongly convicted in 1966 of the 1965 assassination of human rights leader Malcolm X in New York City, based on unreliable eyewitness testimony and official misconduct. Mr. Aziz was not released on parole until 1985 and continued to fight for justice until his exoneration last year. Mr. Islam passed away in 2009, losing the opportunity to see his name cleared. Both men were represented by David B. Shanies Law Office and the Innocence Project.

  • Anthony Dixon

    Freed: December 2021
    Close up of Anthony Dixon

    In 1995, Anthony Dixon was wrongly convicted of a rape and robbery that had taken place two years prior in Harrisonville, Missouri. His conviction was based on eyewitness and voice misidentification. Although DNA testing later proved his innocence, Missouri courts refused to exonerate him. In December 2021, Mr. Dixon was paroled and walked free after spending 28 years wrongly imprisoned. He is represented by the Innocence Project and Midwest Innocence Project.

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  • Michael Monroe

    Freed: January 2022
    Michael Monroe and his family

    Michael Monroe spent more than 27 years in prison after he was wrongly convicted of the 1993 murder of his mother-in-law in Nashua, New Hampshire. His conviction was based on a false confession he gave to police after being interrogated over the course of 17 months. He was released on parole in 2022 after the state parole board heard compelling arguments on his declining health, exemplary disciplinary history, and tremendous familial support. He is represented by the Innocence Project.

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  • Barry Jacobson

    Exonerated: April 2022
    Barry Jacobson

    Barry Jacobson was wrongly convicted of setting fire to his home in Richmond, Massachusetts, in a biased 1983 trial, during which jurors made antisemitic remarks about him. His conviction was based on unreliable arson evidence and a baseless claim that he was seeking to collect insurance money, despite no claim ever being filed. In January 2022, the Berkshire District Attorney’s Office vacated Mr. Jacobson’s conviction based on the evidence of antisemitism during trial and jury deliberations. Mr. Jacobson was represented by the Innocence Project and McDermott Will & Emery LLP.

  • Mallory Nicholson

    Exonerated: June 2022
    Mallory Nicholson and his family

    Mallory Nicholson spent 21 years in prison after he was wrongly convicted of a burglary and sexual assault in Dallas. His conviction was based on eyewitness misidentification, despite the fact that no physical evidence connected him to the crime and strong alibi evidence was presented at his trial. In June 2022, a judge granted the Dallas County district attorney’s motion to dismiss the charges following the discovery of evidence that pointed to another suspect in the case, which police and prosecutors had failed to turn over at his trial. Mr. Nicholson was represented by the Innocence Project, the Innocence Project of Texas, and Udashen Anton.

Rebuilding Lives

Thanks to the generosity of our donors, we expanded our social work team and increased assistance — including housing, transportation, basic necessities, and more — to more than 20 freed clients and their families.

Transforming Systems

Informed by our cases and guided by science, we have taken to courts, statehouses, and Congress to protect vulnerable communities that are most impacted by wrongful conviction.

Last year, we helped secure more than 10 state policy wins to reform and prevent practices that drive wrongful convictions and, in so doing, create a fairer and more equitable legal system for all.

Building on this work, we will address the widespread use of unreliable, emerging technologies in overpoliced communities of color; launch a program that will educate defense attorneys, prosecutors, and judges on the limits and potential of forensic evidence; continue efforts to ban police deception in the interrogation of juveniles; and work to eliminate the trial penalty. We will also collaborate with stakeholders, including the White House’s Office of Science and Technology Policy, to tackle racial bias in forensic pathology and algorithmic technologies.

A group of protestors in New York
Rally for Change
New Yorkers Demand Justice

On Dec. 15, 2021, Kevin Richardson, Yusef Salaam, and Raymond Santana — all members of the Exonerated Five — joined New York State Senator Zellnor Myrie, Assemblyman Clyde Vanel, and advocates to champion a package of bills that aim to reveal and prevent wrongful convictions in the state of New York. This year marks 20 years since their wrongful convictions were vacated.

Strengthening Forensic Practices
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Expert Testimony

We advocated for modifications to a federal rule to make it harder to admit unreliable expert testimony.

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Eyewitness Testimony

We successfully urged Washington’s high court to review the social science around eyewitness testimony to prevent unreliable eyewitness identification from leading to wrongful conviction.

DNA
Forensic Disciplines

To further strengthen the practice of forensic science, we advocated for the establishment of a program at the National Institute of Standards and Technology that evaluates the scientific foundations of forensic science disciplines. The NIST has since produced major draft reports on bite marks, DNA mixtures, and digital evidence.

book
Cognitive Biases

We published a comprehensive paper on cognitive biases in criminal case evaluation.

Achieving Reforms Across the Nation

Advancing the Movement

Our widest-reaching work is done in close collaboration with other innocence organizations, key partners, advocates, and supporters.

Together with members of the Innocence Network, we’ve amplified awareness around wrongful convictions and accelerated the release of innocent people over the years. We’ve also tremendously increased our digital presence: This year, we grew our community of advocates to 1.2 million across our platforms, made 44,000 connections to legislators across the country, and reached new audiences. 

Broadening and deepening these partnerships are absolute priorities in the coming years. After a survey of the needs of Innocence Network organizations, we will explore where we can collaborate more effectively. We will also continue to expand digital engagement on all our platforms and channels, build out our Speakers Bureau and Ambassadors program to help drive support and advocacy, and strengthen our collaboration with researchers interested in our work.

Amplifying Our Voice on Social Media

We extended our reach on social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram, drawing more than 2.7 million views in total.

Happiest Moments

Our “Happiest Moments” campaign received several recognitions for its social impact, including a Webby, a Telly, and two Anthem awards.

Statement of Activities - FY22

(excluding pro bono activities)

Revenue

Individuals$26,544,15463%
Foundations$9,082,39422%
Corporation$2,598,5216%
Events$2,584,3016%
Yeshiva$310,0001%
Investments$499,1631%
Other Income$430,2831%
Total Revenue$42,048,816

Expenditures

Program$17,409,20776%
Management & General
$2,762,12612%
Fundraising$2,857,39912%
Total Revenue$23,028,732

Advancing Justice Together

The victories highlighted in this report and over the last 30 years were only realized because of you. We take the care and stewardship of your gift seriously. We are guided by transparency, efficiency, and integrity. To learn more, visit GUIDESTAR and CHARITY NAVIGATOR, external groups that evaluate the efficacy of nonprofit organizations. We encourage you to share your feedback with us at development@innocenceproject.org.

From Our Donor: Charlie Edmondson
Close up of Charlie Edmondson

The innocence movement started 30 years ago has changed the mentality of people across the country.

How did you first become involved with the Innocence Project?

I read Actual Innocence by Barry Scheck and Peter Neufeld when it first came out some 20 years ago. I was just fascinated with it and outraged by all the miscarriages of justice. I really hadn’t known anything about the whole concept of actual innocence. I soon became involved with the Georgia Innocence Project, which was just getting started at the time and, through them, learned about the broader innocence movement. What I came to see was that an injustice is an injustice; it doesn’t matter whether an exoneree is freed in Georgia or Arizona or Texas. While I continue to support innocence work in Georgia, I also wanted to support the movement nationally. This eventually led to my support of the creation of the Network Support Unit at the Innocence Project that, since 2012, has helped strengthen the power of the global network of innocence organizations.

Later that same year, you became the force behind the Edmondson Walking Fund that guarantees $2,000 to exonerees from every Innocence Network organization. What impact do you hope it has?

The goal has been to try to get funds into new exonerees’ hands within a couple days of their release. That immediacy was very important, and the funds are absolutely without restriction. If an exoneree wants to spend it on having a night out with friends — well, they didn’t get to do that for 23 years while they were wrongfully incarcerated — they can do it now. Or if someone wants to set up a business or pay their first month’s rent or get a new suit, they can use it for that.

When I meet these exonerees — white, Black, men, women, young, old — it’s very moving to hear their individual stories of how they lost years or decades of their lives. And they say to me, “Oh, I used your funds to buy the tools for a woodworking business” or “I finally got my mother into a decent apartment.”

Why do you choose to support the Innocence Project?

My wife and I had started a foundation and were interested in trying to do some good in ways that meant something to us in the here and now. We purposely donated the last of the money left in the foundation a couple of years ago, but we’ve continued to contribute on an individual basis.

The fact of the matter is that the innocence movement started 30 years ago has changed the mentality of people across the country. There is now, at least, some recognition on the part of the general public that, just because a prosecutor is trying someone for a crime, does not mean that all the t’s have been crossed and the i’s dotted. That’s where DNA comes in: Cases that were seemingly the most airtight turned out not to be airtight at all. You know, it wasn’t too long ago that people thought the Innocence Project would work itself out of a job. Unfortunately, that hasn’t yet been the case.

Image: Courtesy of Charlie Edmondson
Fiscal Year 2022 Donors
Fiscal Year 2022 Corporate Donors
Our Team
Board of Directors

Cedric L. Alexander
City of Minneapolis Public Safety Commissioner

Marvin L. Anderson
Retired Fire Chief

Cynthia Augustine
Global Chief Talent Officer, FCB

Gordon DuGan
Innocence Project Board Treasurer

Jennifer L. Eberhardt
Social Psychologist, Stanford University

Jason Flom
CEO, LAVA Media

Denise Foderaro
Advisory Board Member of the National Registry of Exonerations

Tony Goldwyn
Actor, Director, and Producer

John Grisham
Author

Brett Hart
President, United Airlines

Sara Naison-Tarajano
Partner, Goldman Sachs & Co.

Vered Rabia
Innocence Project Board Vice Chair

Steven Alan Reiss
Retired Partner, Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP

Jessica A. Roth
Professor of Law, Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law Yeshiva University

Yusef Salaam
Motivational Speaker, Yusef Speaks

Andrew H. Tananbaum
Innocence Project Board Assistant Treasurer

Jack Taylor
Innocence Project Board Chair

Ekow N. Yankah
Thomas M. Cooley Professor of Law and Professor of Philosophy, University of Michigan

Janet Reno
Board Director Emeritus 2010-2016

B.J. Rosen
Senior Outside Legal Advisor, Innocence Project

Exoneree Advisory Council

Malcolm Alexander
Marvin Anderson
Dewey Bozella
Cornelius Dupree
Angel Gonzalez
Eddie Lowery
Jerry Miller
Michelle Murphy

Founders' Circle

Bill Ackman
Karen Herskovitz Ackman
Laura & John Arnold
Fred & Jutta Benenson
Thomas & Evon Cooper
Maddy deLone
Rodney Ellis
Sherry & Leo Frumkin
Kathryn Greenberg
Jeffrey Gural
Calvin Johnson
Jawed Karim
Howard & Wilma Kaye
Ivy Beth Lewis
Dianne & John Moores
Frank Quattrone & Denise Foderaro
Matthew Rothman
Stephen Schulte
Daniel Shuchman & Lori Lesser
Darrel W. Stephens
Betty Anne Waters

Staff

Adnan Sultan
Staff Attorney

Alicia Maule
Digital Engagement Director

Amanda Wallwin
State Policy Advocate

Ana Marie Diaz
Case Associate

Andrew Lee
Staff Attorney

Andrew Shear
Director of Post-Conviction Litigation

Anton Robinson
Staff Attorney

Barry Scheck
Co-Founder & Special Counsel

Bay Scoggin
State Policy Advocate

Bhavan Sodhi
Chief Program Officer

Brenda Cachay Gutiérrez
Paralegal

Caitlin Murray
Assistant Director of Network Stakeholder Engagement

Carlita Salazar
Deputy Chief Communications Officer

Carrie Baker
Assistant Director of Learning and Development

Cecily Burge
Paralegal

Celeste Vargas
Case Analyst

Chloe Hughes
Interim Deputy Chief Development Officer & Director of Individual and Major Giving

Christina Swarns
Executive Director

Corinne Padavano
Director of Human Resources

Crystal Ortiz
Assistant Director of Special Events

Daniele Selby
Assistant Director of Digital Engagement

Dara Gell
Interim Co-Director of Intake & Case Evaluation

Debra Fulton
Intake Assistant

Denise Tomasini-Joshi
Chief of Staff

Donald Katz
Intake Assistant

Elena Aviles
Interim Co-Director of Intake & Case Evaluation

Elizabeth Gardner
Paralegal

Elizabeth Vaca
Executive Assistant

Erika Lago
Human Resources Manager – Payroll, Benefits & Compliance

Evelyn Jimenez
Receptionist and Administrative Assistant

Fiona Guthrie
Chief Communications Officer

Gabriel Lopez
Case Analyst

Henry Decker
Director of Digital Fundraising

Isabel Vasquez
Communications Coordinator

Isabela Budelmann
Paralegal

Isabelle Cohn
Forensic Science Policy Associate

Jaime Henderson
Director of Data Science and Research

Jane Pucher
Senior Staff Attorney

Jeffrey Johnson
Office Manager

Jessica Diaz
Documents Manager

Jever Mariwala
Paralegal

John McKeown
Director of Information Technology

Jonathon Burne
Senior Case Analyst

Joseph Thompson
Chief Financial Officer

Julia Boland
Paralegal

Julia Lucivero
Senior Media Strategist

Justin Chan
Managing Editor

Kaleena Aviles
Administrative Assistant to the Executive Director

Kanani Schnider
Paralegal

Kenneth Colosky
Information Technology Manager

Khadijah Ndiaye
Policy Assistant

Kyana Champion
Social Worker

Lauren Gottesman
Staff Attorney

Lauren Schlansky
Case Analyst and Investigator

Laurie Roberts
State Policy Advocate

Luis Baez
Administrative Assistant

Marc Vega
Senior Case Analyst

Margo Sacerdote
Policy Researcher

Marisela Hernandez
Legal Assistant

Mary-Kathryn Smith
Post-Conviction Litigation Fellow

M. Chris Fabricant
Director of Strategic Litigation

Megan McIlroy
Strategic Communications Director

Meredith Kennedy
Director of Innocence Network Support Unit

Michael Coleman
Staff Accountant

Natalie Baker
Post-Conviction Litigation Fellow

Nathaniel Erb
State Policy Advocate

Olivia Barnes
Policy Administrator

Patrick Morris
Finance Associate

Peter Neufeld
Co-Founder & Special Counsel

Prahelika Gadtaula
Research Data Coordinator

Rebecca Brown
Director of Policy

Robyn Jefferson
Paralegal, Post-Conviction Litigation Fellowship Program

Rodney Roberts
Re-entry Coach

Sammy Bernstein
Administrative Assistant

Sara LaCava Lieberman
Assistant Director of Development, Network Support Unit

Sarah Chu
Senior Advisor on Forensic Science Policy

Shirley Wu
Innocence Network Coordinator

Shoshanah Kennedy Hobson
Events and Special Projects Manager

Simran Sohal
Case Analyst

Stacey Anderson
Legal Policy Analyst

Susan Friedman
Senior Staff Attorney

Susan Hyon
Executive Manager and Board Liaison

Suzy Salamy
Director of Social Work

Tania Brief
Staff Attorney

Tara Thompson
Senior Staff Attorney

Tebah Browne
Forensic Science Policy Specialist

Valencia Craig
Case Database Coordinator

Vanessa Meterko
Research Manager

Vanessa Potkin
Director of Special Litigation

Vedan Anthony-North
Post-Conviction Litigation Fellow

Yosha Gunasekera
Attorney, Intake Strategic Initiatives

Ysabel Coss
Gift Processing and Engagement Associate

Zeus Rivera
Human Resources Manager – Talent & Development

Thank You

Your generosity and support have been crucial in sustaining our success in the fight for freedom, in the push for structural change, and in advancing the innocence movement. We are sincerely grateful for your commitment to our work and mission.