Georgia Innocence Project History
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.
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.
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.
Kristin Nelson Verrill began her role as Executive Director of Georgia Innocence Project in January 2025.
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.
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.
After more than 20 years behind bars, and just over one year after his release from prison, Dennis Perry was finally exonerated of the 1985 double murder of Harold and Thelma Swain.
Terry Talley walked out of Dooly State Prison a free man after Georgia Innocence Project, LaGrange Police Chief Lou Dekmar, and Coweta Judicial Circuit District Attorney Herb Cranford, Jr. all agreed Terry never should have spent roughly 40 years wrongfully imprisoned for several crimes he did not commit.
Johnny Gates spent more than 43 years in prison for a crime he did not commit. In May 2020, he walked free from Muscogee County Jail.
Kerry Robinson walked out of Coffee Correctional Facility a free man in January 2020, after 18 years wrongly convicted of a rape that he did not commit.
Clare Gilbert (pictured, far right) began as Executive Director of Georgia Innocence Project in May 2016.
In December 2009, more than two years after being wrongfully convicted, Michael Marshall was set free after post-conviction DNA testing proved his innocence.
John White walked out of prison a free man in December 2007, after spending over 27 years in prison for a crime he didn’t commit. DNA testing proved conclusively that John was innocent.
After serving over 22 years of a 45-year sentence, Pete Williams was exonerated and released from prison at age 45. When asked how it felt to be released after those years in prison, Pete said, “Being free—nothing can replace that.”
Robert Clark was exonerated in December 2005 and walked out of prison an innocent man. At the time of his arrest, he was 21 years old, the father of a 5-year-old son, and lived with his mother, who never lost faith in him throughout his trial and incarceration.
Clarence Harrison, Georgia Innocence Project’s first exoneree, served nearly 18 years in prison for a crime he didn’t commit. He was released in 2004 after post-conviction DNA testing conclusively proved his innocence.
Georgia Innocence Project played a key role in the passing of a new state statute allowing any person convicted of a crime to petition for post-conviction DNA testing with the court that entered the judgement of conviction.
Georgia Innocence Project is founded by two Georgia State law students, September Guy and Jill Polster.
Calvin Johnson was the first person in the state of Georgia to be exonerated by DNA evidence after 16 years of wrongful incarceration. His exoneration inspired the creation of Georgia Innocence Project, and he went on to serve on the board of directors and as a major advocate.