Award Information
Description of original award (Fiscal Year 2013, $249,999)
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 University of Illinois at Springfield, in conjunction with the Illinois Innocence Project, will use its award to identify and investigate credible and meritorious claims of actual innocence in Illinois and conduct litigation to remedy the wrongful conviction. The funds will assist the grantee with evaluating, investigating, and litigating cases by supporting personnel costs, travel, and expert witnesses, consultants, and forensic analysis costs.
CA/NCF