Wrongful Conviction Unit Project

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 FY14 (BJA - Wrongful Conviction Review) Pub. L. No. 113-76, 128 Stat. 5, 62. 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 Michigan State Appellate Defender Office will use its award to support the continuation of its Wrongful Conviction Unit, which combines the Fast Response Project and Crime Lab Unit. The grant funds will support personnel costs for a full-time attorney and a part-time clerk to conduct screening, review and evaluation, investigation, and support of other attorneys in order to exonerate wrongfully convicted clients.

CA/NCF