2. Innocence Project Recap
What is the Innocence Project?

3. Innocence Project Recap
Innocence Project = an organization that uses DNA testing to exonerate wrongly convicted people

4. Innocence Project Recap
Exoneration = after a person has been convicted of a crime, determining that the person did not do it and “un-convicting” or overturning the verdict
Releases the person from prison
Removes the criminal charge from his/her record
Allows for a new trial of a new suspect

5. Innocence Project Recap
The 6 causes of wrongful convictions:
Unreliable jailhouse testimony
Inadequate defense
Misapplication of forensic science
Government misconduct
False confessions and coercion
Eyewitness misidentification

6. Innocence Project Recap
Misapplication of forensic science = when forensic science is used in court, but…
There were errors or contamination
There was bias in the interpretation of evidence
The actual science is not “sound” – means that the analysis has not been proven to be reliable

7. Innocence Project Recap
“Non-sound” science that we see in courts:
Fiber impression analysis
Bite mark analysis
Voice recognition
“Sound” science, but often misinterpreted:
Hair and fiber matches
Partial fingerprints
Blood spatter
Weapon and tool impressions

8. Innocence Project Recap
Why is DNA so important for exoneration?
Relatively new
Many cases originally went to trial without any DNA analysis because it was not available at the time
Biological evidence is always well-preserved, so DNA is still available to test many years later

9. Innocence Project REcap
Why is DNA so important for exoneration?
Reliable
DNA analysis have been extensively tested and have one of the lowest rates of error for any forensic testing
DNA analysis is simple and repeatable to use
Easy for a jury to understand

10. Innocence Project Recap
Why is DNA so important for exoneration?
Unique to an individual
DNA is even more unique than fingerprints and there are almost never “false positive” results
DNA can be used to exclude a suspect and also to identify a new suspect (“alternative perpetrator”)