Enhancing Investigation and Case Management in MTIP Post-Conviction Claims of Innocence

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 FY12 BJA Wrongful Conviction Review Program, Pub. L. No. 112-55, 125 Stat. 552, 615. 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 Montana Innocence Project will utilize the FY 2012 Wrongful Conviction award to represent and exonerate wrongfully convicted inmates. The funds will be used to hire experienced investigators to reduce the backlog of cases currently awaiting investigative resources, enabling faster progress on complex cases. Funds will also purchase professional case management software to streamline the casework tracking system and enhance the ability to keep and report detailed case management data. The award will allow the grantee to provide highly effective and efficient representation of the wrongly convicted. CA/NCF