Mission
Free the imprisoned innocent
Educate the public about the problem of wrongful convictions
Studies estimate that an astounding 4% of men and women in prison are innocent of the crimes for which they are imprisoned. In Georgia alone, that means approximately 2,000 people currently incarcerated in prison for crimes they did not commit. Many factors contribute to these wrongful convictions, including eyewitness misidentification, official misconduct, misapplied forensic science, incentivized witnesses, and false confessions. Less quantifiable, but overlaying many wrongful convictions, are human factors and systems such as cognitive bias, racial bias and discrimination, inadequate public defense, and mass incarceration.Â
Advance practices to prevent others from suffering the same fate
GIP helps prevent future wrongful convictions by raising awareness through education and by advocating for policy and legislative reform. By remedying the causes of wrongful convictions, the criminal legal system is improved for everyone.
Help the exonerated rebuild their lives
GIP also works with exonerees to connect them with resources to reintegrate into society and to create a supportive community. Exonerees and those who have been freed from wrongful imprisonment are our inspiration. Through their stories, we can all learn about the many causes and consequences of wrongful conviction, and about the enduring nature of the human spirit.