We are a voice for the imprisoned innocent.
Our Mission
FREE the imprisoned innocent through DNA testing,
ADVANCE practices that minimize the chances of others suffering the same fate,
EDUCATE the public that imprisoning the innocent is neither an isolated nor rare event, and
HELP the exonerated rebuild their lives.
Studies estimate that a shocking 3-5% of men and women in prison are innocent of the crimes of which they are imprisoned. There is a growing understanding of the causes of false conviction. Some of the most frequent reasons include: eyewitness misidentification, inadequate defense, incentivized informants, false confessions, flawed forensic science and government misconduct.
The Georgia Innocence Project investigates criminal convictions where modern DNA testing was not available at the time of trial. If there is a compelling claim of innocence and DNA evidence still exists, GIP litigates to test that DNA - and prove actual innocence.
Volunteer attorneys and law student interns investigate the cases and prepare them for litigation under the supervision of GIP interim Director Clare Gilbert. Since its inception, GIP has received more than 6,800 requests for assistance, including 1,400 from Alabama.
Over 150 students from law schools around the country have honed their investigation and litigation skills at GIP. Between 4 and 15 law students serve as interns each semester. Many have gone on to practice criminal law, either as prosecutors or criminal defense attorneys. We also rely on volunteers who help us with a range of jobs.
The Georgia Innocence Project is an independent 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation dedicated to securing the release and exoneration of innocent men and women imprisoned in Georgia and Alabama for crimes they did not commit.
Donate
Helping exonerate the innocent comes with a price. Please consider donating today so that we can continue in our efforts to bring justice to innocent people convicted of crimes they did not commit. You can also donate every time you shop on Amazon, by Amazon Smile or you can support us by buying items from our Amazon Wishlist.
Volunteer
We can always use an extra set of hands. If you want to donate time to our cause—whether you can file or help with fundraising, or if you’re an attorney who can donate time—please let us know!
Other Ways to Help
There are many ways to help the Georgia Innocence Project, from being an informed citizen to aiding in grassroots activism to attending our events. Find out more!
We are sustained through your continued generosity. Click here to donate.
Fraud alert– we have heard that there are people who fraudulently representing themselves as working for the Georgia Innocence Project, promising legal representation in exchange for money. These people do not work for the Innocence Project. The Georgia Innocence Project provides all legal representation for free. While we rely on charitable donations to support our work, we never solicit money for our services from our clients.