Timeline Stories

After fighting his wrongful incarceration for almost 21 years, Marquez was released and fully exonerated when the State chose to dismiss all charges against him.

Georgia Innocence Project praised the enactment of the Wrongful Conviction and Incarceration Compensation Act in May 2025 after four years of advocacy alongside many partners for the legislation. The new law establishes a comprehensive process for innocent individuals to seek financial compensation after they have resolved their wrongful convictions.

Launched on the 25th anniversary of Calvin’s freedom, the Calvin C. Johnson, Jr. Memorial Fund honors his legacy and serves as a conduit for financial and emotional support, aiming to alleviate the challenges faced by exonerees and their loved ones.

13 months after a court overturned his conviction, Sonny Bharadia was fully exonerated when the State chose to dismiss the case against him in May 2025. After fighting his wrongful conviction for almost 22 years, Sonny was finally vindicated in his fight to prove his innocence.

Clare Gilbert (pictured, far right) began as Executive Director of Georgia Innocence Project in May 2016.

In May 2024, after 25 years of wrongful imprisonment and three years living under very restrictive parole conditions, Ray was finally able to put his wrongful conviction behind him once and for all.

After 22 years of wrongful imprisonment for a crime he had nothing to do with, Joey Watkins was exonerated and was finally able to live his life as a free man along with his family and friends.

After 25 years behind bars for a crime that never happened, Lee Clark was exonerated and walked out of Floyd County Jail into the arms of dozens of friends, families, and loved ones in December 2022.

After 23 years behind bars for a crime he did not commit, Devonia Inman walked out of a Georgia prison and into the arms of family in time to celebrate his first Christmas as a free man in more than two decades.

At 61 years old, after spending more than half his life incarcerated for a crime he did not commit, Ron Jacobsen was at last fully exonerated.