Innocence Project
Innocence Project, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit legal organization that is committed to exonerating individuals who have been wrongly convicted, through the use of DNA testing and working to reform the criminal justice system to prevent future injustice. The group cites various studies estimating that in the United States between 1% and 10% of all prisoners are innocent. The Innocence Project was founded in 1992 by Barry Scheck and Peter Neufeld who gained national attention in the mid-1990s as part of the "Dream Team" of lawyers who formed part of the defense in the O. J. Simpson murder case.
| Formation | 1992 |
|---|---|
| Founder | |
| Type | Nonprofit organization |
| 32-0077563 | |
| Legal status | 501(c)(3) |
| Purpose | |
| Headquarters | 40 Worth Street, New York, NY 10013 |
Region | United States |
Executive Director | Christina Swarns |
| Jack Taylor | |
| Affiliations | The Innocence Network |
Revenue (2020) | $21,373,256: 1 |
| Expenses (2020) | $15,944,005: 1 |
| Endowment | $21,620,304 (2020): 33 |
Employees (2020) | 91: 1 |
Volunteers (2020) | 22: 1 |
| Website | innocenceproject |
As of 2021, the Innocence Project has helped to successfully overturn over 300 convictions through DNA-based exonerations. In 2021, Innocence Project received the biennial Milton Friedman Prize for Advancing Liberty by Cato Institute, awarded in recognition and gratitude for its work to ensure liberty and justice for all. In March 2022, The Innocence Project won two Webby Awards for its Happiest Moments video, winning the Best Humanitarian & Services campaign in both the brand and non-profit categories. Happiest Moments was the organizations first-ever public service announcement that premiered in June 2021 and was produced by Hayden5.