Post-Conviction Innocence Claim Identification, Review and Resolution.

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 FY15 (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 North Carolina Center on Actual Innocence will use the award to assist with two new endeavors, the Microscopic Hair Comparison Project and the Durham District Attorney Project. The funds will support a full-time staff attorney and a full-time case coordinator/investigator, who will work with the North Carolina State Crime Lab to review all cases where microscopic hair comparison was used to obtain convictions. Personnel will also work with the Durham District Attorney’s Office to ensure credible claims of actual innocence are appropriately reviewed. Funds will also secure expert services such as forensic analysis and expert witnesses.

CA/NCF