Policy Changes That Prevent Wrongful Convictions

It is not enough to free the wrongfully convicted from incarceration. We have a responsibility to work toward a system that does not allow wrongful convictions to happen in the first place. As part of the Reform pillar of our mission, we’re working to drive meaningful policy changes that address the causes of wrongful convictions.

We have been instrumental in passing legislation designed to improve the criminal justice process and prevent future wrongful convictions, including:

• Awarding statutory compensation to exonerees through the Tim Cole Act.
• The right to challenge convictions in cases where the underlying forensic science is flawed.
• Requiring disclosure of criminal history and tracking of jailhouse informants.

Our Policy Priorities

• Reforms to address “junk” science
• Stop ​​unreliable jailhouse informant testimony
• Whistleblower protections for law enforcement
• Legal mechanisms for the wrongfully convicted to appeal based on new, non-scientific evidence of innocence
• Strengthening the oversight of local and state forensic laboratories