Innocence Project of Texas FY 2011

The purpose of the Wrongful Conviction Review Program is to provide high quality and efficient representation for potentially wrongfully convicted defendants in post-conviction claims of innocence. This program is funded under the Full-Year Continuing Appropriations Act,Pub. L. No. 112-10, div. B, secs. 1101-1104; Pub. L. No. 111-117, 123 Stat. 3034, 3134. Post-conviction innocence claims are likely to include complex challenges to the reliability or accuracy of evidence presented at trial which fall mainly into three categories: eyewitness identification evidence; confession evidence; and forensic evidence. The goals of this initiative are to: provide quality representation to those who may have been wrongfully convicted; alleviate burdens placed on the criminal justice system through costly and prolonged post-conviction litigation; and identify, whenever possible, the actual perpetrator of the crime.

The Innocence Project of Texas will use its grant award to increase the quality and efficiency of claim review and case litigation through the hiring of staff, creation of a regional office, and increasing travel and expert consultation. Cases often stall due to lack of staff who can review the claims, as well as geographical distance in traveling to interview inmates and witnesses. The grant will assist the Innocence Project of Texas in initiating additional claim investigations and increasing the litigation roster.

CA/NCF