Media
Welcome to our media center. Browse news, videos, and articles.
News
Wrong Convictions Spur Florida to Rethink Using Jail Informants
After the release of a man that was wrongfully convicted of a murder, Florida’s Innocence Commission is rethinking the use of jailhouse informants in their felony cases. The man, Chad Heins, spent 11 years in prison for a murder he was innocent of — his conviction was almost solely based on the
Injustice in Murder Cases
According to a new study recently published by the RAND Corporation, just providing an indigent defendant a lawyer is not enough to “obtain justice”. The issues that directly affect the outcome include: whether the lawyer assigned is screened for quality, whether they are trained to handle the client’s type of case,
Prosecutorial Misconduct and a DNA Exoneration in Texas
After spending 25 years in prison for a crime he did not commit, Michael Morton was exonerated last month in Texas through the use of DNA evidence. In their attempt to prove Mr. Morton’s innocence, attorneys found evidence in court records that the prosecutor from his original trial had withheld critical evidence
The Arizona Justice Project is Appearing Before the U.S. Supreme Court
Bob Bartels, faculty advisor for the Arizona Justice Project, takes the important issue of post-conviction review to the United States Supreme Court. – Question Presented: Whether a defendant in a state criminal case – who cannot raise an ineffective assistance of trial counsel claim (IATC) on direct appeal but must
Understanding the Causes of Wrongful Convictions
Below, you’ll find an interactive resource courtesy of the Innocence Project in New York about the causes of wrongful convictions: The Innocence Project has also released a chart on the DNA exonerations that have occurred throughout the nation in which convictions were obtained involving unvalidated or improper forensic testing. Read more about 166
New Jersey Supreme Court Issues Landmark Decision Mandating Major Changes in the Way Courts Handle Identification Procedures
Relying on Scientific Research on Memory and Identification, Court Says Standard Set by U.S. Supreme Court 30 Years Ago Must Be Revised Contact: Paul Cates, 212-364-5346, cell 917-566-1294, pcates@innocenceproject.org (Trenton, NJ – August 24, 2011) — Today the New Jersey Supreme Court issued a landmark decision requiring major changes in
Articles

SB1500: Restoring dignity and lives after wrongful conviction
Khyl Powell, Guest Commentary, AZCapitolTimesOriginally published February 21, 2025 For 14 years, I have volunteered as a chaplain ministering to felons who have been incarcerated by the Arizona Justice System helping them to rebuild their lives. I’ve spent thousands of hours sitting across from men whose lives have been broken

Arizona House unanimously passes bill that would compensate the wrongfully convicted and imprisoned
Currently, 39 states provide compensation for wrongful convictions, according to the Arizona Justice Project.

Justice delayed
Arizona is one of 11 states that doesn’t compensate people after wrongfully convicting them. State lawmakers are trying to change that.

Phoenix man seeking clemency from Biden over murder he said he didn’t commit
Written by Heidi Hommel, KTAR NEWSOriginally published Dec 13, 2024 A Phoenix man serving a life sentence without the possibility of parole is hoping to be granted clemency by President Joe Biden. Joseph Fuentes, 49, has spent more than half of his life behind bars for a murder he says

An Arizona man serving time for marijuana crimes was convicted in a prison murder. Advocates say he didn’t do it and are seeking clemency from Biden
The Arizona Justice Project is seeking clemency for Joseph Fuentes who they say was wrongfully convicted of murder. Written by Colleen Sikora, 12NewsOriginally published Dec. 31, 2024 An Arizona man is seeking clemency from President Joe Biden for what his attorneys say is a wrongful conviction. Joseph Fuentes was serving

Arizona man in alleged wrongful murder conviction hoping for presidential clemency
Written by Briana Whitney, AZFamilyOriginally published Dec. 12, 2024 While President Biden granted clemency to around 1,500 people Thursday, one Arizona man’s unusual case still awaits the president’s decision. The Arizona Justice Project said Joseph Fuentes was a scapegoat for a prison murder, and instead of being released long ago