Loyola Project for the Innocent (LPI) Accelerated Action Initiative

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 FY17 (BJA - Wrongful Conviction Review) Pub. L. No. 115-31, 131 Stat 135, 203. 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.

Loyola Marymount University will use its FY17 Wrongful Conviction award to fund the Loyola Law School Project for the Innocent Accelerated Action Initiative, as it expects a marked increase in individuals seeking post-conviction assistance. CA/NCF