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Guilty Until Proven Innocent
A story about Californian Herman Atkins and his exoneration after serving a decade of his 47 year sentence. He was convicted in 1988 even though two witnesses gave inconsistent identifications at trial. Herman’s case is one that is featured in the documentary After Innocence (2005). Read more about the case
Shaken-baby Case will Rely on Forensics
A case out of Ohio gaining national attention is looking at reliability of testimony of experts in ‘shaken-baby syndrome’ cases and of ‘short-fall’ injuries. Read more about the case here.
Mother Cleared of Murder: 13 Years in Prison; Pathologist’s Faulty Testimony Led to Verdict
A second-degree murder charge has been withdrawn against an Ontario woman who spent more than 13 years in prison for the death of her toddler son following the faulty testimony of disgraced pathologist Charles Smith. The Crown told an Ontario justice Tuesday it does not wish to proceed with a new
Arizona Murder Mystery: Guilt of Man in 1962 Killings Thrown into Question
Part One: Conviction Questioned They were dead before their bodies hit the ground. In the moonlight, the gunman stood over the two of them and delivered one more shot for each, right in the temple. It was 1962, and the area was still pure desert, creosote bushes and scrub grass
DNA Testing Proves Gilbert Man’s Innocence in 2003 Rape
For all media inquiries please contact: Lindsay Herf • Arizona Justice Project Lindsay.Herf@asu.edu For Immediate Release December 22, 2010 DNA Testing Proves Gilbert Man’s Innocence in 2003 Rape Phoenix, AZ – DNA testing proves that Arizona Justice Project client John Watkins did not commit the 2003 Gilbert rape for which
New Film Recalls ’70 Pioneer Hotel Fire
Every December for the past 40 years, Albert Pesqueira thinks about the devastating fire at the Pioneer Hotel. He remembers what he saw and felt that night as a rookie firefighter. But this December he will bring his memories to life. Pesqueira is the creator of “Hot Pion: The Pioneer
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