Organization of Exonerees/Michigan Innocence Clinic

The Organization of Exonerees is a dedicated group of men and women bringing awareness and visibility to innocent people incarcerated for crimes they did NOT commit. They recently began to travel the country, going from state-to-state lending their voices and platform to individuals that cannot speak for themselves. They personally know the frustrations of the legal system. In November 2024, they proudly became a member of the Innocence Network.

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Unlike many other innocence clinics, which specialize in DNA exonerations, the Michigan Innocence Clinic focuses on innocence cases where there is no DNA to be tested. The clinic’s work spans all levels of state and federal courts. Since its founding in 2009, the clinic has successfully won relief in 45 cases on behalf of people who had been wrongfully convicted and served anywhere from a few months to 46 years in prison.

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Projects

Create a Forensic Science Commission in Michigan

Forensic science—or the application of scientific methods and practices to matters of law—can help identify perpetrators of crimes, but if not properly overseen, regulated, and updated according to the latest standards, can also implicate an innocent person leaving the real perpetrator free to commit additional crimes and jeopardize public safety. According to the National Registry of Exonerations, in Michigan, 61 individuals were wrongfully convicted due to false or misleading forensic evidence as a contributing factor since 1989. A Forensic Science Commission would set minimum standards for testing, implement accreditation programs, provide the necessary training and educational resources for forensic science professionals, and act as an oversight body that addresses public complaints. The Organization of Exonerees, the Michigan Innocence Clinic, and STPP collaborated on a one-pager to educate policymakers on the need for a Forensic Science Commission in Michigan.

Expand Access to Post-Conviction DNA Testing in Michigan

HB 5271 would promote justice in Michigan by expanding access to post-conviction DNA testing for individuals who pleaded guilty under pressure and those who were convicted after the arbitrary cutoff threshold of 2001.

Post-conviction DNA testing is an essential lifeline for the wrongly convicted to regain their freedom and return to their lives. Since 1989, DNA analysis has contributed to the exoneration of 633 innocent Americans. In Michigan, 18 people have been exonerated with the aid of DNA evidence, after serving an average of over 15 years in prison for crimes they did not commit. Despite these important victories, steep eligibility requirements for post-conviction DNA testing still impose barriers to access in several states, lowering overall rates of exoneration and preventing wrongly convicted people from obtaining justice. The Organization of Exonerees, the Michigan Innocence Clinic, and STPP collaborated on a one-pager to educate policymakers on the need to pass HB5271.