Plain-language explanations of the legal concepts, rights, and procedures that matter most in wrongful conviction and post-conviction cases.
These resources are for informational and educational purposes only. They do not constitute legal advice. If you have a specific legal situation, consult a licensed attorney.
Brady v. Maryland (1963) requires prosecutors to disclose any evidence that is favorable to the defendant. Learn what counts as a Brady violation, how courts evaluate them, and why undisclosed evidence can be grounds for post-conviction relief.
"Actual innocence" is a legal standard — not just a claim. Understand the difference between factual innocence and legal exoneration, what courts require to vacate a conviction on innocence grounds, and how this differs from procedural errors.
Direct appeals, state post-conviction relief, and federal habeas corpus each serve different purposes and have different deadlines. This overview explains how the layers of the appeals process work and what each one can and cannot accomplish.
Suppressing evidence, using false testimony, and making improper arguments at trial are all forms of prosecutorial misconduct. Learn what conduct is prohibited, how it gets challenged, and the legal standards courts apply.
From coerced confessions to falsified reports, police misconduct is a documented contributing factor in a large percentage of wrongful convictions. This resource explains the legal framework for challenging fabricated evidence.
Eyewitness error is the leading contributing factor in documented wrongful convictions. Learn how memory works under stress, what identification procedures are considered unreliable, and how misidentification has been successfully challenged in court.
Testimony from jailhouse informants is a significant contributing factor in wrongful convictions. Understand how these cases typically work, what incentives are involved, and how the testimony can be challenged.
Post-conviction DNA testing has exonerated more than 375 people in the United States. This resource explains what DNA testing can and cannot prove, how to request post-conviction testing, and which organizations assist with DNA-based innocence claims.
Bite mark analysis, hair comparison, fire investigation methodology, and other forensic disciplines have been challenged or discredited in recent years. Learn how to identify whether flawed forensic testimony was used in a case and how to obtain expert review.
The Sixth Amendment guarantees the right to effective assistance of counsel. Under Strickland v. Washington, a conviction can be challenged if trial counsel's performance was deficient and the defendant was prejudiced. Understand what this standard requires.
A petition for writ of habeas corpus is a federal court mechanism for challenging unlawful imprisonment. This resource explains the history, AEDPA limitations, the exhaustion requirement, and grounds on which a federal habeas petition can succeed.
If you have a loved one who maintains their innocence, there are concrete steps you can take: gathering records, identifying witnesses, connecting with legal organizations, and working with research groups like 444 Justice.
The Freedom of Information Act and state equivalents allow you to request police reports, fire investigation records, internal memos, and other government documents. Learn how to file, what to ask for, and how to appeal a denial.
A curated list of innocence projects, legal aid organizations, advocacy groups, and national registries that work on post-conviction cases. Know who is out there and what each organization does.
Vacating a conviction does not always mean freedom. Prosecutors can retry a case, and courts can impose conditions. Understand what comes next when convictions are overturned.
Thirty-eight states and the federal government have compensation statutes for people wrongfully imprisoned. Learn which states have these laws, what the eligibility requirements look like, and what compensation may be available.
Watch Duane Williams discuss his wrongful conviction, the suppressed evidence, and what it took to win his freedom — in this full podcast interview.
Duane Williams shares the full story of his case: the night of the fire, the suppressed evidence, the jailhouse informant, and the over-11-year fight for exoneration.
Educational resources can only take you so far. If you believe someone was wrongfully convicted, let our team take a professional look.
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