Innocence Project 2008 Annual Report

THE INNOCENCE PROJECT 2008ANNUAL REPORTBENJAMIN N. CARDOZO SCHOOL OF LAW, YESHIVA UNIVERSITY

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BOARD OF DIRECTORSGordon DuGanPresident and Chief ExecutiveOfficer, W.P. Carey & Co., LLC

Senator Rodney EllisTexas State Senate, District 13Board Chair

Jason FlomPresident, LAVA Records

John GrishamAuthor

Calvin JohnsonFormer Innocence Project client andexoneree; Supervisor, MetropolitanAtlanta Rapid Transit Authority

Dr. Eric S. LanderDirector, Broad Institute of MIT andHarvard Professor of Biology, MIT

Hon. Janet RenoFormer U.S. Attorney General

Matthew RothmanManaging Director and GlobalHead of Quantitative EquityStrategies, Barclays Capital

Stephen SchulteFounding Partner and Of Counsel,Schulte Roth & Zabel, LLP

Bonnie SteingartPartner, Fried, Frank, Harris,Shriver & Jacobson LLP

Andrew H. TananbaumPresident and CEO, CapitalBusiness Credit, LLC

Jack TaylorManaging Partner, Surrey HillCapital, LLC Board Treasurer

Paul R. Verkuil Professor of Law, Cardozo School of Law Of Counsel, Boies, Schiller &Flexner LLP

Rachel WarrenM.K. Enterprises, Inc.

FEATURES

FREEING THE INNOCENT..................................................4

CLEARING THE PATH TO EXONERATION................................8

PREVENTING WRONGFUL CONVICTION ..............................10

PROTECTING THE RIGHTS OF THE EXONERATED ....................14

DEPARTMENTS

LETTER FROM THE CO-DIRECTORS ......................................3

INNOCENCE PROJECT SUPPORTERS ..................................18

LETTER FROM BOARD CHAIR AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR..........26

FINANCIAL INFORMATION..............................................27

CONTENTS

4

10

PHOTO CREDITS:

COVER: AP Photo/Mike Stone; PAGE 3: www.joshuakristal.com; PAGE 4: Dick Blume/The Post-Standard; PAGE 5: Observer-Dispatch, Utica, New

York; PAGE 6: AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis; PAGE 8: AP Photo/Mike Groll; PAGE 10: www.joshuakristal.com, PAGE 14; Dallas Morning News/

Vernon Bryant; PAGE 16: Chicago Tribune photo by E. Jason Wambsgans; PAGE 17 CENTER: ©Paul Thatcher; PAGE 26: ©Douglas Gorenstein

14

ON THE COVER: THOMAS MCGOWAN (CENTER) AND HIS INNOCENCE PROJECT ATTORNEYS, CO-DIRECTOR BARRYSCHECK (LEFT) AND STAFF ATTORNEY JASON KREAG, CELEBRATE MCGOWAN’S RELEASE AS THEY EXITA DALLAS COURTROOM, APRIL 16, 2008. MCGOWAN WAS EXONERATED IN JUNE AFTER DNA TESTINGPROVED HIM INNOCENT OF A 1985 RAPE.

3L E T T E R F R O M T H E C O - D I R E C T O R S

– PETER NEUFELD, CO-DIRECTORBARRY SCHECK, CO-DIRECTOR

REALIZING A VISIONEvery time an innocent person is exonerated andreleased from prison, that individual’s life changesforever – and so do the lives of his family and friends,the victim in the case, the real perpetrator who evadedjustice for so long, law enforcement authorities whohelped convict him, and community members whohear the story.

Every time, it’s a remarkable event – with rippleeffects far beyond what any of us can see or imagine.And yet it’s not enough.

When we started this work more than 16 years ago, we wanted to exonerate as many innocent peopleas we could, but we also wanted to fundamentallychange the system responsible for their wrongfulconvictions. We wanted law enforcement agencies tochange their practices, and we wanted state and federalpolicymakers to pass laws that can prevent wrongfulconvictions on a much bigger scale, before theyhappen.

In 2008, we made more important progress thanever toward making this bold, ambitious vision a realitynationwide. Fourteen more people were exoneratedthrough DNA testing, seven of them Innocence Project

clients. The Innocence Project introduced criticallegislation in 28 states in 2008 and helped pass 19 lawsthat will prevent future wrongful convictions and helpinnocent people nationwide.

Already, 2009 is shaping up as a year of historicbreakthroughs. In just the first few weeks of the year, the National Academy of Sciences released areport that could transform forensic science, and theInnocence Project argued our first case before the U.S. Supreme Court.

The work of the Innocence Project has never beenas important – or as effective. Thanks to a growing base of strong supporters, we’re having an unparalleledimpact all across the country. We’ve always aimed high and, in honor of every person who has beenexonerated or is waiting to be proven innocent, we’llreach even higher in the months and years ahead.


INNOCENTFREEING THE

F R E E I N G T H E I N N O C E N T 5

STEVEN BARNESThe rape and murder of 16-year-old Kimberly Simon in 1985 shocked Oneida County, New York. In their search for suspects, police questioned StephenBarnes, who owned a truck similar to one identified bywitnesses as being seen near the crime scene. During alengthy interrogation, the 19-year-old Barnes insistedon his innocence. Two years later with the murder stillunresolved, police arrested Barnes.

For many in the community who supported him, the evidence didn’t add up to a conviction. A forensicanalyst testified that soil on his truck tires was similar to soil near the Mohawk River where Simon’s body was found. Barnes remembers, “They said the soil had sand in it. Most of the soil in the county has sand in it.” Forensic evidence also included a dusty imprint on the outside of Barnes’ truck that was said to matchthe fabric pattern on a particular brand of jeans thatSimon wore when she was killed. “All they really hadwas hearsay and similarities,” says Barnes. He wasconvicted in 1989 and sentenced to 25 years to life.

In 1993, one year after the Innocence Project wasfounded, Barnes became the organization’s 18th client.Those early DNA tests came back inconclusive, with noDNA profile. Barnes and his family were devastated. “Mycase was dormant for awhile; I didn’t know which way toturn. But then in the 2000s, I knew DNA testing hadadvanced.” In 2008, the Innocence Project sought DNAtesting again with new, more sophisticated methods.Finally, the results exonerated Barnes. He was releasedthe day before Thanksgiving after 20 years in prison.

While Barnes gets adjusted to life on the outside, theInnocence Project advocates for stronger standards andbetter oversight of the forensic sciences. In response tocases like Barnes’, and at the request of Congress, theNational Academy of Sciences just released a majorreport that could transform the forensic sciencesnationwide and help spark many of the reforms thatthe Innocence Project has worked towards, includingestablishing scientifically validated standards for allforensic disciplines.

LEFT: STEVEN BARNES, JUST MOMENTS AFTER BEING RELEASED, HUGS HIS SISTER LISA PAWLOSKI AS HIS MOTHER SYLVIA BARNES LOOKS ON,NOVEMBER 25, 2008. BARNES WAS SUBSEQUENTLY EXONERATED INJANUARY.

ABOVE: STEVEN BARNES IS LED OUT OF THE ONEIDA COUNTYCOURTHOUSE AFTER BEING CHARGED WITH RAPE AND MURDER ON MARCH 30, 1988.

Watch a video interview with Steven Barnes and other 2008 exonerees at www.innocenceproject.org/annualreport08.


KENNEDY BREWER ANDLEVON BROOKSWhen two little girls were raped and murdered withintwo years of each other in rural Noxubee County,Mississippi, police, prosecutors and forensic scientistsused the same flawed methods to solve both crimes.Levon Brooks, the boyfriend of the victim’s mother inthe first case, was convicted in 1992. Kennedy Brewer,the boyfriend of the second victim’s mother, wasconvicted of the second crime in 1995. The trials werealmost as identical as the crimes themselves; the mostsignificant difference being that Brooks was sentencedto life in prison and Brewer was sentenced to death.

The prosecution relied on the forensic testimony of Dr. Michael West, who claimed separately at eachtrial that marks on the victims’ bodies were bite marksmatching the defendant’s top two teeth. The markswere later determined to be the result ofdecomposition or insect activity.

In 2001, advanced methods of DNA testing revealeda profile in the Brewer case, and he was cleared. Rather

than exonerate him, however, officials moved him from death row to the county jail where he waited five more years for a retrial. In the meantime, theInnocence Project took Brooks’ case. DNA testing in2008 identified Albert Johnson as the real perpetratorin the Brewer case. Johnson, who had been an initialsuspect in both crimes, confessed to both crimes whenconfronted with the DNA evidence.

Kennedy Brewer and Levon Brooks were exoneratedin early 2008. Both had been incarcerated for 15 years,and Brewer spent 7 years on death row. Their casesspotlighted a state forensic system plagued by cronyismand a lack of oversight. In response to public outcry,led by the Innocence Project and the MississippiInnocence Project, Attorney General Jim Hood createda task force to review critical needs of the state’s deathinvestigation system and its crime lab. The task force isstudying how to provide the state crime lab andmedical examiner’s office with the funding andresources they need to modernize the system.

LEVON BROOKS (LEFT) AND KENNEDY BREWER AT A CIRCUIT COURTHEARING IN NOXUBEE COUNTY, MISSISSIPPI, WHERE BREWER WAS

EXONERATED AND BROOKS WAS RELEASED, FEBRUARY 15, 2008. BROOKS WAS SUBSEQUENTLY EXONERATED IN MARCH.

F R E E I N G T H E I N N O C E N T 7

DEAN CAGEThe 15-year-old victim of a 1994 Chicago rape helpedpolice develop a composite sketch of her attacker thatwas distributed in the neighborhood. Dean Cage saw it posted in the grocery store where he worked. “Istopped and read it and went back to work. It didn’tlook anything like me.” Cage – a working father,engaged to be married, with no criminal record –could never have guessed he’d be charged with thecrime. But an anonymous tipster identified him basedon the sketch. Police brought the victim to the grocerystore, where she also identified Cage. He was arrestedand taken to the county jail where he would remain forover two years awaiting trial. “It was so rough in there,”he remembers.

In a two-day trial in 1996, Cage was found guilty andsentenced to 40 years. He immediately began workingon his appeals. Another prisoner told him about theInnocence Project and he sent a letter asking for help.In May 2008, after over 11 years in prison, Cage wasexonerated based on DNA testing. Today, Cage hasbegun to re-create the life he had before his wrongfulconviction. He was reunited with his family and hisformer fiancée.

STEVEN PHILLIPSIn 1982, an armed perpetrator broke into severalhealth clubs in the Dallas area and forced large groupsof women to perform sexual acts. Steven Phillips wasmisidentified by ten of the victims. One victimidentified another suspect, Sidney Alvin Goodyear, who was wanted for committing identical crimes. Butpolice didn’t pursue the lead. Phillips was wrongfullyconvicted of rape and burglary and charged with nineother identical crimes. Fearing a life sentence, he pledguilty. “The truth – that I was innocent – didn’t comeinto consideration much after two trials,” Phillips says.

The Innocence Project took his case in 2006, and in October 2008, 25 years after his wrongful conviction,Phillips was exonerated. Goodyear, who had died inprison, was identified through a DNA database hit as the real perpetrator. Phillips is one of 14 peopleproven innocent through DNA testing in Dallas County whose wrongful conviction involved eyewitnessmisidentification. In light of these cases, the Dallas Police Department announced that it will implement new eyewitness identification proceduresrecommended by the Innocence Project and proven to reduce the rate of misidentifications.

Michael Blair TX 1994Kennedy Brewer MS 1995Dean Cage IL 1996Charles Chatman TX 1981William Dillon FL 1981

EXONEREE STATEYEAR OF

CONVICTION EXONEREE STATEYEAR OF

CONVICTION EXONEREE STATEYEAR OF

CONVICTION

Nathaniel Hatchett MI 1998Rickie Johnson LA 1983Arthur Johnson MS 1993Robert McClendon OH 1991Thomas McGowan TX 1985/1986

Steven Phillips TX 1982/1983Ronald Gene Taylor TX 1995Patrick Waller TX 1992Joseph White NE 1989

EXONERATED THROUGH DNA TESTING IN 2008


EXONERATION

CLEARINGTHE PATH TO

C L E A R I N G T H E P A T H T O E X O N E R A T I O N 9

ACCESS TO DNA TESTINGInnocent prisoners in Wyoming and South Carolinahave reason to hope this year. With the passage of the states’ post-conviction DNA access laws in 2008,prisoners who claim they've been wrongfully convictedhave a clearer mechanism to request DNA tests to provetheir innocence. Similar laws have helped overturnwrongful convictions and identify real perpetratorsnationwide since New York passed the first law in 1994.

When the Innocence Project was founded in 1992,not a single U.S. state had a law explicitly grantingprisoners access to DNA testing. The Innocence Project sparked a national movement supporting theright to post-conviction DNA testing whenever it canprove innocence or confirm guilt. Today, these laws are in place in all but six states: Alabama, Alaska,Massachusetts, Mississippi, Oklahoma and South Dakota.Wrongfully convicted men and women may have to fightfor months or years in court for the right to DNA testingin these states. The Innocence Project recently took oneof these cases all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court –Alaskan William Osborne has repeatedly been deniedDNA testing without just cause. The Innocence Projectbelieves prisoners have a constitutional right to DNAtesting that could prove innocence and courts haverecognized that right. In the meantime, the InnocenceProject works to enact new DNA access laws and improveexisting ones so that legal obstacles don't obstruct aninnocent person’s path to exoneration.

EVIDENCE PRESERVATIONAn evidence preservation bill in Colorado was derailedlast spring when an early draft failed to include anyprotections for innocent prisoners. The bill wasintended to establish statewide procedures for storingand maintaining evidence in criminal cases in order toclear the wrongfully convicted and solve cold cases. Butan early draft would have allowed police departmentsto destroy evidence from old cases, limiting evidencepreservation to future cases and foreclosing many post-conviction innocence claims.

“HOW CAN ANYBODY SANCTION AN INNOCENT PERSONSPENDING DECADES IN PRISON OR BEING EXECUTED? WE REALLY DO NEED THE OPPORTUNITY TO PROVE THEM INNOCENT, AND WITHOUT THIS KIND OF POST-CONVICTION STATUTE, THEY JUST CAN’T GET INTOCOURT AND THEY CAN'T GET ACCESS TO THE EVIDENCE.”

– Innocence Project Co-Director Barry Scheck testifying before

the South Carolina Senate Judiciary Subcommittee

The Innocence Project testified in opposition to the draft, forcing further negotiations. The final billcorrected the problem by mandating the preservationof evidence in most sexual assault and murder cases for the life of the defendant. Colorado is now one of25 states in the nation with an evidence preservationstatute. The Innocence Project advocates for strongevidence preservation legislation in target states eachyear. In 2008, the Innocence Project introducedlegislation in six states and helped pass three evidencepreservation statutes.

ABOVE: AN EVIDENCE STORAGE FACILITY

LEFT: A FORENSIC SCIENTIST AT THE NEW YORK STATE POLICE LABPROCESSES DNA SAMPLES.

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WRONGFULPREVENTING

CONVICTION

P R E V E N T I N G W R O N G F U L C O N V I C T I O N 1 1

EYEWITNESSMISIDENTIFICATIONEyewitness misidentification is the single greatestcontributing factor to wrongful convictions lateroverturned through DNA testing, occurring in a full75% of the over 230 DNA exoneration cases. As publicawareness of the problem grows, criminal justicepractitioners nationwide are searching for solutions. In response, the Innocence Project has launched amajor effort to educate police, prosecutors, judges and defense attorneys about how to make eyewitnessidentification more accurate and reliable.

In 2008, the Innocence Project co-sponsored thefirst ever National Eyewitness Identification LitigationConference with the National Legal Aid and DefenderAssociation, the National Association of CriminalDefense Lawyers, and the Washington D.C. PublicDefender Service, drawing over 300 people from 32 states and the District of Columbia. Crime victimJennifer Thompson-Cannino gave the keynotepresentation on her experience misidentifying a manwho would later be exonerated through DNA testing.Eyewitness identification experts like Gary Wells taughtsessions along with leading legal experts like InnocenceProject Co-Director Barry Scheck about everythingfrom jury selection to closing arguments in eyewitnessidentification cases.

The Innocence Project also spearheads a nationalnetwork that provides thousands of attorneys nationwidewith the best scientific and legal information on theissue. In the coming year, the Innocence Project willdistribute educational materials for in-state trainingsessions. The Innocence Project also advises police and prosecutors about how to improve eyewitnessidentification procedures to strengthen cases against the guilty and reduce misidentifications of innocentpeople. In 2008, several more jurisdictions changedtheir eyewitness identification procedures in accordancewith the Innocence Project’s recommendations.

IN 2008, DNA TESTING EXONERATED 12 PEOPLE WHOHAD BEEN WRONGFULLY CONVICTED BASED, IN PART, ON EYEWITNESS MISIDENTIFICATION.

In addition to educating criminal justicecommunities in the last year, the Innocence Projectcontinued its mission of pursuing critical policyreforms. Eyewitness identification reform legislationwas introduced in 13 states in 2008. The InnocenceProject testified to support reforms in five states. Sevenstates have already adopted eyewitness identificationreform policies. In 2009, the Innocence Project willbroaden outreach efforts to the public, practitionersand policymakers and continue to pursue meaningfuleyewitness identification reform to prevent wrongfulconvictions in the years to come.

JOHN JEROME WHITE (CENTER) WAS MISIDENTIFIED AS THE PERPETRATOROF A 1979 RAPE IN THIS LINEUP AND WRONGFULLY CONVICTED.

THE REAL PERPETRATOR IS JAMES EDWARD PARHAM (FAR RIGHT). THEGEORGIA INNOCENCE PROJECT WON DNA TESTING IN THE CASE,

EXONERATING WHITE IN 2007 AND IDENTIFYING THE REAL PERPETRATOR.

LEFT: SCOTT FAPPIANO, WRONGFULLY CONVICTED OF RAPE IN NEW YORKAND EXONERATED THROUGH DNA TESTING IN 2006, TESTIFIES BEFORETHE NEW YORK STATE BAR ASSOCIATION TASK FORCE ON WRONGFULCONVICTIONS HEARING, FEBRUARY 19, 2009.


FORENSIC SCIENCE REFORM For nearly 20 years, DNA exonerations have shown that forensic science, though a great tool of thecriminal justice system, can also contribute to wrongfulconvictions when it isn’t used responsibly. InnocenceProject Co-Director Peter Neufeld testified about theneed for stronger federal oversight of forensic sciencesbefore the Senate Judiciary Committee in early 2008.“This has to be fixed,” Neufeld told the Committee.“And until it's fixed, there will continue to be wrongfulconvictions and there will still be instances where thereal perpetrator of these crimes is out committingadditional crimes.”

IMPROPER AND UNVALIDATED FORENSICS HASCONTRIBUTED TO APPROXIMATELY 50% OF WRONGFULCONVICTIONS OVERTURNED THROUGH DNA TESTING.

Thorough, unbiased, independent investigations canprevent forensic errors from recurring – unfortunately,these types of investigations have been rare and thefederal government has failed to enforce existingoversight requirements. Neufeld testified about theneed to enforce the oversight requirement of the Paul Coverdell Forensic Science Improvement GrantProgram, a federal program that provides federalfunding for crime labs and other forensic facilities onthe condition that they have proper forensic oversightmechanisms in place. The Innocence Project trackswhich states receive funding and which comply withthe forensic oversight requirement and has found that states have not been held accountable when

their crime labs make errors or engage in actualmisconduct. The Innocence Project will issue theresults of this research in a major report to be releasedin March 2009.

Some states have taken action despite the lack of federal direction. The Texas Forensic ScienceCommission, established in 2005, has already set ahistoric precedent by becoming the first state agency in U.S. history to investigate a possible wrongfulexecution. At the Innocence Project's request, theCommission is investigating the case of Cameron Todd Willingham, who was convicted based onapparently flawed arson analysis and died by lethalinjection in 2004. Texas is one of a number of statesthat have forensic science commissions to help ensurethat forensic science is being implemented properlythat laboratories are accredited, and that forensicpractitioners in states have the resources andinformation to do their jobs well.

In the coming year, the Innocence Project willcontinue our efforts to ensure quality forensicsnationwide by working with states to create forensicscience commissions, urging the federal government to enforce the Coverdell grant program’s oversightmechanism, and advocating for the creation of the National Institute of Forensic Science, asrecommended by the National Academy of Sciences, to stimulate much-needed research and set nationalstandards and oversight for all forensic disciplines.

HARRY EDWARDS AND CONSTANTINE GATSONIS OF THE NATIONALACADEMY OF SCIENCES AT A NEWS CONFERENCE IN FEBRUARY 2009

ABOUT THE NEED FOR IMPROVEMENT IN FORENSIC SCIENCE.

P R E V E N T I N G W R O N G F U L C O N V I C T I O N 1 3

FALSE CONFESSIONSThis year, after three consecutive years of consideringthe legislation, Maryland lawmakers passed a bill thatrequires recording interrogations for investigations of murders, rapes, and first- and second-degree sexoffenses. The practice of electronically recordinginterrogations from the reading of the Miranda rights onward has found increasing favor among lawenforcement nationwide; over 500 law enforcementagencies have now voluntarily adopted the practice.Recording interrogations prevents false claims of police coercion, helps ensure proper police conductand creates a clear, comprehensive record of asuspect’s statements.

"THREATS AND COERCION SOMETIMES LEAD INNOCENTPEOPLE TO CONFESS, BUT EVEN THE CALMEST, MOSTSTANDARDIZED INTERROGATIONS CAN LEAD TO A FALSECONFESSION OR ADMISSION."

– Jim Trainum, Los Angeles Times, October 24, 2008

When the legislation was first introduced, theInnocence Project testified in support of it, alongsideDetective Jim Trainum, a veteran officer of theMetropolitan Police Department in the District ofColumbia. Trainum spoke about his experienceinadvertently securing a false confession in a murdercase. False confessions and admissions are notuncommon, contributing to wrongful convictions in 25% of cases overturned by DNA testing. In 2008,the Innocence Project worked closely with coalitionpartners on bills in seven states, and two of those billspassed, the one in Maryland and one in Nebraska.Thirteen states and the District of Columbia nowrequire recording interrogations.

PROSECUTORIALMISCONDUCT ANDINADEQUATE DEFENSE

Negligence or misconduct by prosecutors anddefense attorneys has contributed to a number ofwrongful convictions. In Innocence Project cases,inadequate defense attorneys have been drunk orasleep in the courtroom, have failed to investigatealibis, failed to call or consult with experts and more.Prosecutors have exaggerated the value of evidence,withheld key evidence from the defense and failed toinvestigate other suspects. After conviction, prosecutorshave unreasonably blocked innocence claims andopposed DNA testing.

In September, the Innocence Project, as a memberof the Innocence Network, filed a friend-of-the-courtbrief in a U.S. Supreme Court case concerningprosecutorial immunity in wrongful convictions cases. Also in the past year, the Innocence Project has stepped up our public education efforts aboutprosecutorial misconduct and inadequate defensethrough publications, online initiatives, strategic media outreach and speaking engagements, reachingthousands of students, community members, criminaljustice practitioners, members of the media and more.In 2009, the Innocence Project will expand our reachby strengthening partnerships with organizations andlegal experts who raise awareness about prosecutorialmisconduct and inadequate defense. Innocence Projectresearch about these causes of wrongful conviction mayhelp define policy reforms and advocacy effortsnationwide.

TYPES OF ALLEGED MISCONDUCT: BASED ON 53 OF 220 DNA EXONERATION CASES INVOLVING APPEALS AND/OR CIVIL SUITS ADDRESSING PROSECUTORIAL MISCONDUCT

MULTIPLE TYPES ADDRESSEDIMPROPER ARGUMENT, INCLUDING MAKING

QUESTIONABLE, IMPROPER OR INFLAMMATORY REMARKS

WITHOLDING POTENTIALLY EXCULPATORY EVIDENCE

ELICITING FALSE/PERJURED TESTIMONY

OTHER, INCLUDING DESTRUCTION OR FABRICATION OF EVIDENCE AND IMPROPER USE OF JAILHOUSE SNITCHES

NOT SPECIFIED

64%

38%

8%

34%

8%

36%

100%90%80%70%60%50%40%30%20%10%

0%


PROTECTINGEXONERATEDTHE RIGHTS OF THE

P R O T E C T I N G T H E R I G H T S O F T H E E X O N E R A T E D 1 5

EXONEREE COMPENSATIONAfter the exhilaration of winning their freedom,exonerees are often faced with the reality that theyhave limited resources. In those tenuous first months,they depend on family, friends and support groups.State-sponsored support services for exonerees arealmost nonexistent; in fact, many services that areavailable to parolees, like job training and housingassistance, are not available to exonerees. When statesdon’t take responsibility, the Innocence Project andother advocacy groups are left to try to meet theenormous and varied needs of the recently exonerated.

The Innocence Project works with state legislaturesto create and expand meaningful compensationstatutes that help people rebuild their lives afterexoneration – mentally, physically and financially. In2008, the Innocence Project made important progresstoward ensuring that social services are included incompensation legislation. New laws in Connecticut,Florida and Illinois advanced the trend toward morecomprehensive support. Connecticut now providespossible funding for tuition in the state universitysystem, counseling, job training and other services;Florida includes a waiver of tuition and fees for anycareer center, community college or state university;and Illinois offers job search and placement services

including resume assistance, interview preparation andreferrals to job openings.

In many of the 25 states that have compensationstatutes, protections for exonerees are still inadequate.Payment often arrives years after exoneration and may be insufficient to start a new life. Some states deny funding to exonerees who pled guilty, falsely confessed,or had a prior criminal record. In total, only about 50%of the over 230 people exonerated by DNA testing havereceived some form of compensation, and far fewerhave received any additional state-sponsored services.

“WHEN YOU ARE IN PRISON FOR AS LONG AS I WAS,PEOPLE EITHER THINK YOU MUST BE GUILTY OR AT LEASTDAMAGED. IT’S BEEN LONELY. VERY LONELY.”

– EXONEREE MICHAEL WILLIAMS

The Innocence Project supports legislation that awards at least $50,000 per year of wrongfulincarceration and $100,000 per year served on deathrow as recommended by Congress. Legislation shouldalso include a provision for immediate assistance uponexoneration: subsistence funds, housing, psychologicalcounseling, medical and dental care, job skills training,education and other relevant services. The InnocenceProject will renew the push for better compensationlaws in 2009, especially in states like New Jersey andMichigan where exonerees are still waiting to receivethe support they deserve.

TX

OK

IA

MO

LA

AL

TN

OHIL

WI NY MA

NJ

MDWV

CT

ME

NHVT

NC

VA

FL

MT

UTCA

DC

STATES WITH COMPENSATION LAWS

LEFT: AT AN APRIL 15, 2008, HEARING TO CLEAR HIM, THOMASMCGOWAN (RIGHT) LAUGHS AS TEXAS EXONEREE JAMES GILES OFFERSHIM A $100 BILL TO HELP REBUILD HIS LIFE AFTER 23 YEARS OFWRONGFUL IMPRISONMENT.


INNOCENCE PROJECT SOCIALWORK PROGRAMAfter years behind bars, there is nothing moreimportant to the recently exonerated than a place to call home. Exonerees often stay with family orfriends at first, as they struggle to find work and affordtheir own place. For many, having the freedom andindependence of their own home is a goal to lookforward to. With the help of the Innocence Projectsocial work program, two recent exonerees relocated to their own homes this year – Dean Cage in Chicagoand Kennedy Brewer in Brooksville, Mississippi.

Cage, his fiancée and her three children found afour-bedroom house with a yard and a basement whereCage hopes to build a recreation room. “This is realpeaceful up here. We’ve got a lot of room,” he says.

Brewer and his fiancée moved into a three-bedroomhouse off the main road in Brooksville and are settlingin with new furniture and appliances provided by theInnocence Project. Both exonerees received money for the down payment on their rental homes from theInnocence Project’s Exoneree Fund, which providesvital services like housing, food and clothing to clients

in the first year after release. The Innocence Project’ssocial workers also helped Cage with job training andmedical care needs and established utility accounts forCage and Brewer.

AFTER YEARS BEHIND BARS, THERE IS NOTHING MOREIMPORTANT TO THE RECENTLY EXONERATED THAN APLACE TO CALL HOME.

The Innocence Project provides pre-release services and intensive post-releases services to ourclients nationwide. More than 30 clients in 15 statesreceived assistance this year. Before clients are released,social workers consult with them and their families toassess immediate needs and develop an individualizedplan for support. After release, services includehousing, mental and physical health, public benefits,employment, transportation, education or vocationaltraining, social support networking and more. Supportis most concentrated in the first year after release toensure the smoothest transition possible, but maycontinue on an ongoing basis as needed.

DAYS AFTER HIS MAY 2008 EXONERATION, DEAN CAGE (CENTER) ISREUNITED WITH HIS FAMILY, INCLUDING NEPHEW JACOBI CAGE AND NIECE

SHEKINAH CAGE (LEFT) AT HIS MOTHER'S HOME IN CHICAGO.

P R O T E C T I N G T H E R I G H T S O F T H E E X O N E R A T E D 1 7

2008 EXONEREES TALK ABOUT LIFE AFTEREXONERATIONThomas McGowan: 20 years“Now I have choices. I don’t have to be controlled andturned on and off like a robot. I can be out in the freeworld and see what direction I want my life to go in. It feels good just to have that freedom. It’s a greatmotivator. Just getting out and going into a place toorder something and not being told that I can’t have it. The hard part is knowing that those years are gone,and I can’t get them back. Right now I still feel like I’ve just been put out here in this big old world witheverything in it and I’m trying to start. It’s like ashattered mirror and I’m starting to put the pieces in there.”

IT FEELS GOOD JUST TO HAVE THAT FREEDOM. THE HARDPART IS KNOWING THAT THOSE YEARS ARE GONE, AND ICAN’T GET THEM BACK.

– THOMAS MCGOWAN

Ronald Taylor: 12 years“A lot of people say it’s a transition, but I just movedon. My life is lovely now compared to what it was. I got married two months after I got out to JeanetteBrown who stayed with me all those years while I was in prison. And I started a landscaping business. If I can sit for years and years and look at a wall, then I’ll be fine out here where I have plenty of room tomaneuver. I haven’t been compensated yet, but I’mnot worried about it. I got plenty of patience. Ifsomebody’s waiting for my patience to run out,they’re in trouble.”

Rickie Johnson: 25 years“The compensation – $150,000 – was nothing. I wasworking before my wrongful conviction, and by now Iwould’ve been retired. But you make the best of a badsituation. I’m real good at that. I never put myself inthe institutional mind. The only habit that I still havefrom prison is getting up early. But that’s good for mebecause I like to get up early and create things. I makeleather goods: belts, bags, boots. I opened my store, RJLeather Shop, on the anniversary of my exoneration.I’m going to teach my family how to do the business,build it up, look at them run it, and then go retire.”

ABOVE: TOP TO BOTTOM, THOMAS MCGOWAN, RONALD TAYLOR AND HISWIFE JEANETTE BROWN, AND RICKIE JOHNSON


SUPPORTERSINNOCENCE PROJECT

T H E I N N O C E N C E P R O J E C T D O N O R S 1 9

THE INNOCENCE PROJECT THANKS OUR GENEROUSSUPPORTERS AND REGRETS THAT WE DO NOT HAVE SPACETO LIST THEM ALL.FISCAL YEAR JULY 1, 2007 THROUGH JUNE 30, 2008

$100,000+Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law,

Yeshiva University Grousbeck Family Foundation JEHT Foundation Peter B. Lewis John Moores Open Society Institute Frank P. and Denise Quattrone The Starr Foundation

$50,000 TO $99,999Ammon Foundation Jason and Wendy Flom Kathryn O. and Alan C. Greenberg Renee and John Grisham John Langan and Judith Nadell The Mousetrap Foundation The Neukom Family Foundation Jeff Roberts and Alicia Fukunaga Mr. and Mrs. Alan G. Weiler

$25,000 TO $49,999Charles Lawrence Keith and Clara Miller

Foundation Cochran, Neufeld & Scheck, LLP Thomas Cooper Joseph Flom Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson LLPArlene and Arnold Goldstein Family

Foundation Grantham, Mayo, Van Otterloo & Co., LLC JPMorgan Chase The Honorable and Mrs. Earle I. Mack Mayer Brown LLP The Overbrook Foundation The Raiff Foundation Schulte Roth & Zabel LLP Andrew and Dorothy Tananbaum The John and Wendy Neu Foundation Viacom, Inc. Charlie and Lauran Walk Winston & Strawn LLP

$10,000 TO $24,999A & E Television Networks Elias Adamopoulus Boies, Schiller & Flexner LLP Brian Cartmell Covington & Burling LLP Cravath, Swaine and Moore LLP Thomas and Barbara Dooley Gordon and Karen DuGan Earle and Katherine Moore Foundation Ernst & Young L.L.P. Frances & Benjamin Benenson Foundation Frederick V. Davis Trust Sherry and Leo Frumkin Ina and Jeffrey Garten H. van Ameringen Foundation

Helen & William Mazer Foundation Hickrill Foundation Jacob Burns Foundation Andrew Karp Gary Karrass The Leo Model Foundation The Leonard Friedland Charitable

Foundation David and Ruth Levine The Lillian & Ira N. Langsan

Foundation, Inc. Louise & Arde Bulova Fund The Mellen Foundation, Inc. The Miami Dolphins Foundation Peter B. Reynolds Matthew Rothman and Nancy Katz Sheila Saltiel The Shana Alexander Charitable

Foundation The Shelley & Donald Rubin Foundation Sullivan & Cromwell LLP Jack and Kristalina Taylor Jeanne M. Villon Vital Spark Foundation W.P. Carey Foundation, Inc. Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP David Weintraub William and Jane Schloss Family Foundation

$5,000 TO $9,999Dr. Noelie Alito Laurie Arbeiter and Jennifer Hobbs Bantam Dell Publishing Group Lisa Bowen CBS Corporation Paul J. and Carol Collins Community Church of New York Unitarian

Universalist CRA International Irl, Dina, Alex and Zac Cramer Maddy deLone and Bobby Cohen Dickstein Shapiro LLP Dora L. Foster Trust The Doubleday Broadway Publishing Group Greg Dubin Josh Dubin Emery Celli Brinckerhoff & Abady LLP Fannie B.H. Jones Charitable Lead Unitrust Hensey Alfonso Fenton Kevin and Mary Ellen Finnerty Franklin, Weinrib, Rudell & Vassallo, P.C. Beverly and Lyman Hamilton, in honor of

Stephen Schulte Dr. Paul Hartunian Sam and Ronnie Heyman Holly Andersen and Douglas Hirsch, in

honor of Kathy & Alan Greenberg Ruth M. Holland Jones Day

Bob Kagan and Paula Sunshine Howard and Wilma Kaye Kaye Scholer LLP Lankler Siffert & Wohl LLP Gerald B. Lefcourt, Esq. Linda D. A. Fardan Trust Gary Lippman Gary and Janice Long MAH Foundation, Inc. Milberg LLP Peter Neufeld and Adele Bernhard The Penates Foundation Philip W. Riskin Charitable Foundation Ruth Reichl and Michael Singer Eric F. Saltzman and Victoria Munroe Samuel J. Holtzman Family Foundation Barry Scheck and Dorothy Rick Stephen and Margaret Cook Schulte Gerald L. Shargel, Esq. David E. Shaw, PhD and Beth Kobliner

Shaw, in memory of Suzanne Shaw Snow Showtime Networks, Inc. Ann L. and Herbert J. Siegel, in honor of

Alan and Kathy Greenberg The Silver Family Foundation The Sirus Fund Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP Swartz Family Foundation, in honor of

Mark Swartz Maria Vecchiotti Molly Levinson and Josh Wachs Rachel Lee Warren Stacey and Jeffrey Weber Richard Wells, in memory of Don and

Jo Wells WilmerHale Don Zacharia Mr. and Mrs. Marc Zboch Nick and Debbie Zoullas

$2,500 TO $4,999Dr. & Mrs. Bruce and Yoko Allen The Arnold and Jeanne Bernstein Fund Barnert Temple Stephen and Thea M. Bell John Benis Allan and Nancy Bernard Bernard F. and Alva B. Gimbel Foundation Willard B. Brown Brownington Foundation, Inc. Elisa Burns, MD Sheana W. Butler, BCW Trust III Bob and Debbie Cervenka Adam Chase Sanford M. Cohen Ben Denckla and Sarah Reber Joe DeSimone The Edith B. and Lee V. Jacobs Fund No.1 Fross Zelnick Lehrman & Zissu, P.C.


Jack Furlong and Anna McDonough The Gage Fund Tim and Kimberly Gartland Benjamin Gord Bobbie E. Gottlieb and Alan Marcus Hycliff Foundation Jake Family Fund George Kendall The Kenneth Aidekman Family Foundation Kirby Family Foundation Dr. & Mrs. Eric S. and Lori Lander McGuireWoods LLP Merck Partnership for Giving Myron D. Miller Stephen T. Milligan, in memory of

Marguerite Donnelly Jennifer and David Millstone Hershey and Susan Moss Paul Murray New York Society for Ethical Culture Nora Ephron & Nicholas Pileggi

Foundation Augustus and Lisbeth Oliver Kevin L. Palmer Beth Pfeiffer David Rabin Harold D. and Leilee W. Reiter Drs. Steven Safyer and Paula Marcus Frederick and Shirley Salzer Aliza Sarid Philip and Kathy Seligmann Ryan Senser Robert Shainheit and Laura Blanco Zoe Tananbaum Carol H. Tolan The William F. and Doris W. Oliver

Foundation James K. Williams III and Shirley Williams Yo La Tengo, Inc. Gabriel Zimmerman

$1,000 TO $2,499A Soldier of God, Jimmy Abraham Fuchsberg Family Foundation, Inc. William Abrams and Julie Salamon Joe Allen Esmond and Marsha Alleyne Joseph Philip Forte, Esq. Attias Family Foundation Tracy L. Austin Avenue Capital Group Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Bakersmith Baumol Family Foundation Julian Bellenghi Rita and William Bender Charles and Rachel Bernheim Anne Bittner Lowell and April Blankfort David Boettger Benjamin Brafman The Broude Family Trust Mary Bundy Steven Burrall Bruce and Bettina S. Buschel Robert and Paula Butler Cecily M. Carson Americo Cascella Richard and Lisa Cashin The Casler-Livingston Foundation

Robert Flippin Robert and Deborah Chalfin, in honor of

Risa and Benjamin Chaflin Changing Our World David and Julie Chernow The Chiuchiarelli Family Foundation Charles E. and Dee A. Clayman Neil R. Constable Roy and Susan Coppedge Daniel Cowin Craig E. Lighty Fund Davis, Polk & Wardwell Anne S. Dayton Matthew and Elizabeth Deeb Anne L. Detmer and Charles Kenney Diamondston Foundation, Inc. Sherri DiMarco Daniel Dolgin and Loraine GardnerAlain Dougnagio Shirley A. Duffy Mary M. Dunbar Francis Dunleavy Senator Rodney Ellis Charles and Elaine Engelstein The Eshe Fund Dennis Esposito Findlay Family Foundation Wayne Forte, Entourage Talent Associates John M. Frawley and Jane L. Hagy Seth Freeman Mr. and Mrs. Feliks Frenkel Robert Friede Paul Friedman Robert Friedman and Anita Davidson Foster and Lynn Friess Scott Palmer Fuhrman Gair, Gair, Conason, Steigman & Mackauf Martin Garbus, Davis & Gilbert LLP The Genworth Foundation Gess Donor Fund Elise and Neil Getz Luicis, LLC Lawrence Goichman Adam Goldsmith Google Matching Gifts Ruth Grant Robert Grass Miriam B. Greenberger Charles Grodin Jim Guerinot Mr. and Mrs. Scott Gygi Edward Hass Kim Haglund Erica Hahn Kathryn and Craig Hall Foundation/

Kristina Hall Hasler Jeff Hamond and Mauri A. Ziff, PhD Elizabeth Hargrave and Matthew Cohen James Harvey William A. Hecht and Barbara L. Houlihan John and Margaret Herke Ann Hirsch and Andy Bailey Howard and Alice P. Howard Mr. and Mrs. Dick Hyman Mark M. Iger Norma Johnson and Allen Ross Anne Josenhans and Greg Hayden The Kaiserman Foundation Amy and Gary Kalkut

INNOCENCE PROJECT TOCELEBRATE “FREEDOMAND JUSTICE” AT THIRDANNUAL BENEFITThe third annual “Celebration of Freedom& Justice” takes place May 6, 2009, inNew York City. The Innocence Project ispleased to honor Bob Balaban, director and co-producer of The Exonerated; thelaw firm of Weil, Gotshal & Manges for its extensive pro bono support of theInnocence Project; and recording industrypioneer and Board Member Jason Flom for his leadership in building the InnocenceProject. The 2008 benefit saluted JohnGrisham, Board Member and author of the best-selling book The Innocent Man,and the law firm of Mayer Brown for itscollaboration with the Innocence Project in reforming eyewitness identificationprocedures. The 600 supporters whoattended raised over $700,000 forInnocence Project programs andoperations. Alan C. and Kathryn O.Greenberg co-chaired the event.

ROY BROWN, EXONERATED THROUGH DNA TESTING AFTER 15YEARS IN PRISON, SPEAKS AT THE 2008 INNOCENCE PROJECTBENEFIT.


Jonas Kant and Lucy Lee Karen Karp Ira Stephen Kay Lawrence and Susan Kennedy King Family Fund Marcella Klein and Richard Schaeffer Lori Klinikowski Yo Kobayashi Arthur and Ruth Kohn Michael Kraft Chris Kramer, D.O. Nancy Kronheim Emily Kunreuther Stephen Langdon Rob Levine Alexander Lloyd LM Charitable Gift Trust Rosa Lockett Donal Francis Logue Kevin and Erika Long Loyola College in Maryland Nadine Lubka Valerie Mace David and Frances Magee Mahtook & La Fleur Mr. and Mrs. Peter Malkin Dr. Subbaiah Malladi Richard Mallinson Ann Mandelbaum Gene Manheim The Manny & Ruthy Cohen Foundation John Manulis and Liz Heller John Marshall, in honor of the exonorated The Maurice R. and Corinne P. Greenberg

Foundation Ian Maxtone-Graham The McClain Family Fund Cormac McEnery and Mary Pat Thornton Mick Management, Inc. Microsoft Matching Gifts Program Wilfredo Milan Cynthia Morales Martha Mortenson Frank E. Mullin Nash Family Foundation Jim Neuberger and Helen Stambler

Neuberger Muriel Neufeld John T. O’Connor Douglas J. and Hilary R. Ormond The Owenoke Foundation Bryant Page Sarah Paley and Bob Kerrey Brian Park Park Row Fund Lynne Pasculano Joel J. Paston Rita H. Patrick, in honor of the 200 men

who were exonerated Andrei and Barbara Jean Perumal Phi Sigma Lambda Dale L. Ponikvar Leanne Press and Edward Hawthorne Hillary and Michael Reed Ellen and Mitchell B. Rick Howard M. Robbins and Julie A. Menichella,

in memory of Margaret M. Robbins Nancy Roberts Steve and Constance Kaiserman Robinson

Robert R. Robinson James and Laura Ross, in honor of Alan

and Kathy Greenberg John K. Rudolph and Kathy Gunst Joanne Sarro Borini Christen Schaffer Howard Schoninger The Schreiber Family Foundation Victor Schuster and Sanda Masur Reade Seligmann Joyce Sirlin-Rand Erin and Patrick Sloane Edwin Smith Jill W. and Robert C. Smith Bill Snetsinger Cecilia Soh and Peter S. Lau Patricia Soll and James Flachsenhaar Sheldon H. Solow William G. and Maria Spears Dr. Arlene R. Stang Mike Stein Marshall Steinman David and Aimee Steven Jean and Donald Stone Jonathan Stuart Syms Corp. Fernanda D. Tavares Howell L.T.D. Taylor Harshwardhan Thaker Nancy Thatcher The Lynn Warshow Charitable Fund Thermodyne Engineering, Inc. Michael Toltz Tom Topor Tru TV Brian Vaughan Sheldon Vidibor May Wang Dr. Victoria Wapf The Weisman Family Foundation, in honor

of Fred and Jane Brooks Ellen W. Weldon Morris Whitis L. R. Wilky James K. Williams Jr. Curt Wilson David Wittig Wolfensohn Family Foundation Jeffrey S. and Gro V. Wood Albert C. Wright Z. S. & M. Wilf Foundation Constance Zalk Ethan and Jennifer Zweig

$500 TO $999454 Life Sciences Anurag Agarwal Paul and Katherine Albitz Justin Alston-Payne C.B. Bassity Rick Beale Charles and Jennifer Beeler Karen Benedek Marilyn D. and Alan Bergman Steven Bernhaut Richard A. Bernstein The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation,

Matching Gifts Neal E. Blackwell

INNOCENCE PROJECTYOUNG PROFESSIONALSCOMMITTEE TO HOSTEVENT IN JUNEThe Young Professionals Committee hosts its second fundraiser in New York City, in June 2009. The Committee, established inthe fall of 2007, has grown to a group of nearly 50 emerging leaders in law,finance and the arts. Its fall 2008fundraising event raised over $40,000 for the Exoneree Fund, which supportsInnocence Project clients with basicnecessities like food, shelter and clothingafter release from prison. Over 200 peopleattended the gathering at New York’s Rubin Museum of Art. Exoneree DavidShephard and Innocence Project Co-DirectorBarry Scheck were featured speakers.

MUSICIAN JESSE MALIN PERFORMS AT THE INNOCENCEPROJECT’S YOUNG PROFESSIONALS COMMITTEE EVENT IN2008.


James Bogin Stephen Bomse Ronald and Phyllis Bourgois BP America, Inc. James Brock and Liz Watson Susanne Brody, Esq. Anthony Burr Bill and Shirley Campbell Carl Adam Carte Richard P. Case John and Beth Catrambone Edward and Katherine Cerullo Amitabh and Reema Chandra Dr. Prasanna Chandrasekhar Sarah Childress William L. Clay Marge Cohen and Gordon Schiff Daniel and Lois Compain Patricia Connelly, in memory of

David H. Bodiker Sonja J.M. Cooper, Esq. Kate White Daniella and Greg Coules, in honor of

Alan and Kathy Greenberg Lisa Walsh Curtin D.N. Fell Elementary School, in memory of

Michael Daniel Walls Mark D’Arcy Kathy Davis Larry Denenberg Nathan and Marilyn Dershowitz Zooey Deschanel John DiLiberti Stephen J. Doig and Marion E. Cass, in

honor of Jameson Doig Beth A. Dombek Ian and Bree Dumain Sarah Eilers and Jon Cohen Christopher Fallon Solomon Field Helen Finnigan and Steven Schwab Robyn Free Robert and Louann Frome L. Darryl Garnett George E. Ewan Family Foundation, Inc. The George Sakier Foundation Janet Gillies Brad Goldman Goldman, Sachs & Co., Matching Gifts Honorable Judge Emily Jane Goodman Robert C. Gottlieb, Esq. David Gordon Greenberg Jeffrey W. and Kimberly E. Greenberg John M. and Ila Gross Halo Foundation, Inc. Paul Halsch Zev Handel and Ju Namkung B.A. Heck, in memory of Dr. William Heck Donald Heller Mark Henry Christine Hersh Clay Hiles Frank Holozubiec HP Company Foundation, Matching Gifts Thomas Hughes Larry Hutcher Nancy Impastato Felix Jenkins James Jensvold

Christopher Johnson Project Agape-Facebook Donors John and Suzanne Kannarr Hal and Jesse Kant KasCon Inc. Dr. and Mrs. Herbert J. and Gabrielle Reem

Kayden Patricia Klees Matthew Kobin Paul Kolaj, Famous Famiglia Scott A. Korenbaum, Esq. Michael A. Kovner and Jean M. Doyen Judy Kudlow Mark and Peggy Kurland David Larkin John G. Larkin Allan Lenzner Shannon Lepore Ruth Levitan The Lifshutz Foundation Marcia Linebarger Stuart and Laura Litwin Glenys Lobban John and Ann Mahoney Rachel R. Marcus and J. Edwin Atwood Dyke L. Marler James Mayo Barbara and James McCauley Wynn McCloskey Josephine Merck and James Stevenson,

in honor of Maddy deLone John Merrill Bill and Melodee Metzger Jay Militscher Peter J. and Anne C. Millington Denise Mirman, in memory of Mr. James

“Jim” Murphy Robert and Virginia Montgomery David H. Morse Judith Munzig Tho Thi Nguyen and Anh M. Tran Asa B. Notting Kenneth J. and Sandra L. O’Keefe David Orlofsky Yvonne Otieno Outten & Golden LLP Delores Simmons Owens Steve and Sandra Paget Kenneth Patton Peoples Choice Political Club, Inc. Bill Persky and Joanna Patton Eleanor Jackson Piel Ron Pile Susan Butler Plum Kimberly Pollak Jon Popke Darryl and Leasa Primo RBS Greenwich Capital Foundation, Inc. Phyllis G. Redstone Honorable Janet Reno Andy Riebs and Maureen Hogan Christopher Roche Robert Rosen Phyllis and Sheldon Ross, in honor of

Chris and Sally Lutz David Rothstein Royce Carlton, Inc. Amanda Rubin Bob Sage

DEVELOPMENTCOMMITTEE SPONSORSFUNDRAISING EVENTSNATIONWIDEIn the last year, the Innocence ProjectDevelopment Committee hosted five houseparties and industry-specific fundraisingevents in Los Angeles, Chicago, Boston and New York introducing friends andcolleagues to the work of the InnocenceProject. Each of the five events featuredguest speakers, including author JohnGrisham, Innocence Project Co-DirectorsBarry Scheck and Peter Neufeld, andexonerees Herman Atkins, Alan Newtonand Jerry Miller. Development Committeemembers include Innocence ProjectExecutive Director Maddy deLone; BoardMembers Matthew Rothman, Jason Flom,Andrew Tananbaum and Gordon DuGan;and supporters Miriam Buhl, SherryFrumkin, David Koropp and Bridget Siegel.

DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE CO-CHAIR MATTHEW ROTHMAN(LEFT) WITH HIS WIFE NANCY KATZ AND INNOCENCE PROJECTCO-DIRECTOR BARRY SCHECK AT THE 2008 INNOCENCEPROJECT BENEFIT.


PRODUCTIVEPARTNERSHIPS WITHFOUNDATIONSThe tremendous, long-term support andpartnership of the Open Society Institute(OSI), the Overbrook Foundation and many other grant makers has helped theInnocence Project grow from a small legalclinic into a national organization. OSI, a key supporter of the Innocence Projectsince 2001, is respected worldwide for its strong commitment to human rights,vigorous democracies and governmentalaccountability. Its current gift totals$450,000 over three years. The OverbrookFoundation is also a vital contributor tohuman and civil rights programs,generously supporting the InnocenceProject each year since 1999. Its mostrecent three-year grant of $135,000 hasgreatly bolstered the Innocence Project’sdynamic initiatives to affect legislation and policy at the local, state and nationallevels.

Barbara Baldock and Phillip Butler, inhonor of Stephen Schulte

Adam Bamberger Teri L. Barr William Barstow, MD James Basney Julia Batum Michael G. Bell Bruce Berg Sally Bergen Paul G. and Elizabeth W. Bigler Jonathan Birkhahn and Alexis Brosen David Block Benjamin Blum Leta Bodine Eric Bokota Valerie Bolger Jason Bordelon Robert Bourque and Katherine Staton Joseph Brady Selina Brillantes Brogan Tennyson Group, Inc. Kent Bronson Miriam Buhl The Brown Family Dr. Joanne Burger Eugene Burnett Phoebe Burns Dale Burwen Steven Busch Ted Byer John and Annette Calimafde Campaign Consultation, Inc. Gregory C. Carey Catawba College Darline Chambers Lisa Chang Lori Checkley Vicki G. Cheikes Christ House Edwin Cies Nalani Clark Christopher G. Clautice The Clorox Company Foundation,

Matching Gifts Program Rebekah Coleman Thomas Collimore Ellen Connorton Larry N. Cooley Ken and Candice Corby Mr. and Mrs. Howard E. Cotton Danielle Coutts Warren and Sharon Crowder Culpepper Group, Inc. Michael W. Cummins Obrad Cvetovich Niels Damrauer Ann Dancer Cathy N. Davidson Tessa Decarlo and Dan Goldberg Mary K. De George Christian DeCarlo Sarah deLone Mark Anthony Donaghy Nancy Dorfman Anna Dover William and Joy Downey Jennifer Downing Jordan A. Drachman and Efrat Zalishnick

Tammy Jo and Steven Sanders Josh Sapan and Ann Foley Carlo Sarmiento Marcia Scanlon Michael Schulraff Stephen J. Schulhofer and Laurie Wohl Brenda Seidel Marc and Ellen Simon Dr. Ila Singh Bryon Slatten Jeffrey A. Slott Mario Small Anthony McClain Smith Nancy K. Smith Sandra Susan Smith David Snyder William G. Soltis, Jr. Sony/ATV Publishing, LLC Tobi St. John Timothy Sullivan Colin Summers and Nell Scovell Supercuts Travis Sweat Kay Taneyhill Daniel Tisch Jené O’Keefe Trigg Kay Tyler UBS, Matching Gifts Melissa G. Vail Ezekiel Vanderhoek and Stephanie Green Verific Design Automations Paul Verkuil, Esq. and Dr. Judith Rodin Alexandra Villa Dave Villano Paul Volosen Barbara J. Walden Mark Walsh Joan M. Warburg Daniel Wasser Joseph Wielgus Mitchell D. Weiner Dr. and Mrs. Jeffrey and Ilene Weiss Arthur J. and Anne F. Wichman John and Marcia Wilkinson Garen John Wintemute Wintergreen Advisers, LLC Donald Winters Diane Zahn Zion Temple Baptist Church Roger L. and Leesa Zissu Jordana Zizmor

$200 TO $499Eric and Marie-Jose Albert Debra Alessio Mr. and Mrs. Joanne G. Alkire Elyse M. Allen Stewart Alter Mark L. Amsterdam Amy Anderson and George Somero Mary Ellen Arbuckle Arizona Hydrotherapy Mr. Frank Ascoli Robert Asen Norman B. Asher Virginia P. Atkins Abbe B. and Mark D. Avart Steven Baker


To make a donation, please use the enclosed envelope or

visit our website:www.innocenceproject.org.

Barbara M. Hicks Judy O. Higgins Hoffman, Pollok & Pickholz, LLP Brigid L.M. Hogan William C. Holtzman Clare Horvath Lynn Houston Susan Hurst IAC Nancy Iaria Juliann Illescas Michael Inglis Thomas Isaacson Rika Ito and Mike Flicker Aretha Jackson Jim Janover and Marcy Sandler Russell Japikse Walter Jenkins, in memory of Michael

Daniel Walls Larry and Donnah Jones Sheldon Jones Eungie Joo Jess Joseph Jackie Joseph-Lawrence, in honor of

Allan Bernard William D. and Judith K. Joyce Ron and Janeen Joynt Jim Justiss Jane Kaczmarek Richard Kahn Nicholas Kahn-Fogel Eugene Neal Kaplan Judy Kaplan Ed Karabedian Holly Karr Patt Karr Steven and Susan Kasher Brian Keck, in memory of Joe Wilson Margaret Keenan Richard Keenan and Kathleen McNamara Sean Keenan Ingeborg Kelly Marlene A. Kelly Spero Kessaris Paul Khakshouri Barbara Khinoy Margaretta C. Kildebeck, in honor of

Craig Stuart Karen Kimbrell Howell Jim and Nina Kingsdale Beverly Kirsch Bob and Abigail Kirsch Deanna Kirtman Dr. Nora Kleps Frederick C. and Marion B. Kneip Arlene Koby Bernhard Koenig Karen Kolbert, in honor of Allan and

Nancy Bernard Rachael and Michael Kollmer Janienne Kondrich Christopher Konger Louis Kotva Mr. and Mrs. Victor A. Kovner Kraft Foods, Matching Gifts Program Anne Kravet Gloria and Richard Krawczyk Corinna Kuhl Julie Kyse

William L. Dunn, Jr. Dianne Eberlein Meeghan Prunty Edelstein, in honor of

Elizabeth Mayers and Gorman Prunty Cipora Eisenberg Stephen and Alison Eldridge Denise Eliot Michael Faccioli Jack and Reva Falk Allison Schneirov Fisch and Steven Fisch Mark and Jill Fishman Deron and Marian Florey Theresa Flynn Joseph Fontak Elizabeth Forminard Jacques Fortier Carol R. and Dennis G. Foster Norma Fox Tara Francolini Mr. Darryl Franklin James Fraser Jason Frederick Christopher A. Fronk Tim Furrow Danielle Garten, in memory of Fred Warren

Bennett The GE Foundation, Matching Gifts

Program Eleanor Gease Dr. Don C. Gentry Kim Giampietro, in honor of Irene

Giampietro Paul and Patricia Gibert Roberta Gilbert and Joseph Barron Ruth O. and Robert J. Glass James Glasscock Susan Glassman Debra Goertz Joe Goldenson and Ronnie Jacobs Steve Golob Gerri Gomperts Shivan Govindan Kenneth and Connie Graham Evan G. and Sascha Douglass Greenberg Paul and Louise Greenberg Stanley Greenberg Josh Greenman David and Kremena Gross Catherine Gund and Bruce Morrow Daniel and Susan Gutterman Colin and Anne Gyles Stuart Hagler Jessica Hahn Daniel Hamermesh Felicia Hamilton Francis P. Hannigan, in memory of

Neil Leonard Stephen and Debbie Harnik Kenyon Harp William Heck Kathryn Heflin and David Sadoff John D. Heiberger Kevin Henning Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation Julia K. Hermiston, in honor of Risa and

Benjamin Chalfin Marc Hertzberg Mel and Marie Hertzig Joseph and Elizabeth Heston

A&E PARTNERS WITHINNOCENCE PROJECTThe Innocence Project is partnering with A&E Television Networks this year to increase awareness about wrongfulconvictions and reforms that can preventthem. A&E’s “Real Life. Change” programis an initiative to use the network’s popular cable channels (including A&E, the History Channel, the BiographyChannel and others) and the network’sheavily trafficked website to engageaudiences on critical issues. Previously, A&E partnered with the White House in asimilar campaign. The Innocence Project’spartnership with A&E includes a featuredarea on the A&E website, on-air publicservice announcements about theInnocence Project’s work, and thedevelopment of lesson plans for educatorsnationwide to teach students aboutwrongful convictions.


Dallas and Jo Lacy Alyse Laemmle The Lam Research Foundation Joel Edward Lamb Michael J. Lane Kristin Lasagna Brian H. Leahy Elizabeth Lemersal S. Lennart Dorothy Lewis Jean Libera Liss Global, Inc. Eric R. Lloyd Peter J. Lobert Vincent Loncke Camille Longino Peter Los Abbe D. Lowell Ken Luymes Robert C. MacCallum John G. Maclellan, III and Mary B.

Maclellan Heath Madom Andrew Malis Barrie D. Mandel Marc and Deborah Fogel Fund William S. Marshall Milo Martin Judge and Mrs. Gary Marton Chris Masters Abby Maxman and Charles Danzoll Kevin McCarthy Beverly McCoy Genevieve McGarvey Kathleen McGauran, in memory of

Timothy McGauran Dr. James T. McHugh Yvonne Mckay Matthew McKenna Don McKennan Gregory Meyer David Minkin Susan M. Misgen Filippo and Sylvia Moneti Meredith Monroe Howard P. Moody Dr. Thomas W. Moorman Pamela and Douglas More Donna Morelli Barbara and David Morgan Alan and Anne Morrison Kira Morrison Frederick Mouthman Maureen Milligan John and Louise Finney Murphy Ragnar Naess, in memory of Neil J. Leonard Frances C. Nauss Melissa Nazareth William L. Nemerever Margo Neri Gregg Newton Anthony and Nancy Ody Oliver Osborne Steven Oswald Inpakala Simon Pandian Margaret E. Parker, in honor of

Carl Witschy Mark W. Parrish Norman Paul

Isaac Payne Eleanor Penziner Ruth and Leonard Perfido Carl Perrin Susan Picard Amanda and Curtis Polk Joseph J. Pomar Rodger and Candy Popkin Shari Popkin Michael Poppo Matthew and Lindsay Post Rachel Probert Lauren Rabin Yolanda Ramirez Raphael Byron B. Randolph Harland Ranney Jim Rapson RCF Management, LLC Lauren and James Record J. Diane Redd Marian Reid Jeffrey Rein Bruno and Suzanne Rescigna Dr. Shawn Reynolds Stuart and Laura Rice Joanne Richards Asher Richelli and Daniel Swee S. Rimple Robert M. Schorr Family Gift Fund, in

honor of Margaret Cook Schulte andStephen Schulte

Philip Rockfeld Oren and Barbara Root William Ross Robert Rothenbach Paul Rucker Barbara Ryan and James Muldoon Eleanor M. Ryan The SAH Consultancy Kristen Santillo Joan Sasine William Sass Andrew Schapiro George M. Schisler, Jr. Kate Schmeidler Jeanine Bova Schnell Kai Schub Richard A. Schumacher Angalina Sean John V. Sell Dennis Semenza J. Daniel Shakespeare, III and Yvette G.

Shakespeare Michael R. Shannon Evan and Jill L. Shapiro Robert and Connie Shapiro James Shea John Shea Tony Shih Cyd and Josef Sieghart Linda Silver, PhD, in honor of

Amanda Moss Harvey Silverglate and Elsa Dorfman Charles and Connie Simonson Ann Smith Dr. Earl Smith Mikie Snell Nancy Somma Chehie Songstad

Jack Spiegel Andrew D. Sprung and Cynthia Galeota St. Luke’s United Church of Christ David Stein Robert and Helene Stone Carolyn See Arch and Laura Sturaitis Anangur and Sarawathy Swaminathan, in

honor of Benjamin and Risa Chalfin Michael Sweeney Gail Tanzer James Taylor Jonathan D. Thier Patricia Thompson, Esq. Lars Tiffany Jay Topkis Dr. Art Townsend Richard and Jacqueline Trezza Jerry Tull Frances M. Uitti Stewart Urist Richard Valeriani Thomas J. and Victoria B. Vallely Barbara Van Buren Patricia B. Vanderbes Constance V. Vecchione Krishnamoorthy Venkataramanan James Vihstadt Maurice Volaski John L. and Caroline A. Walker Irwin H. Warren Willard and Claudette Warren Beverly Washington Tannis Watkins Phyllis Watson John Wayne Jonathan and Melissa Webster Gayle Weinberg Barbara Wellinghausen Walter Wellinghausen Andy Welter Sonja West and Robert Fezekas Mark and Betsy Westhoff Jon and Kimberly Wheeler Catherine White Susan Whitehead Allen Williams Bill Williams Jeremy Wise John Ryder Wittpenn, Jr. Henry Wolfinger Patty Woo and Steve Poretzky Steven E. Woods Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Wyman Ya Shu Yang William and Amy Yates Mildred Yearby Alice Young and Thomas Shortall Ella Zarky Rhonda Zero David Zeto Hilary and Stu Zipper

L E T T E R F R O M B O A R D C H A I R A N D E X E C U T I V E D I R E C T O R2 6

– SENATOR RODNEY ELLIS, BOARD CHAIRMADDY DELONE, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

BUILDING OUR CAPACITYWhen someone writes to the Innocence Project asking for help on a case, it sets off acomplicated chain of events that can last months or years. Our intake staff researchesthe case from every angle, ultimately trying to figure out whether DNA testing canprove innocence. Our criteria sounds simple, but analyzing potential cases can beextremely complicated – and the stakes are high.

In 2008, we received 3,216 letters from people writing to us for the first time to askfor help on a case. At the end of the year, 8,284 cases were in some stage of evaluation,and we had 212 active clients (while consulting on 55 more cases).

As we mark the Innocence Project’s fifth year as an independent nonprofitorganization, our case intake and evaluation work illustrates how we’ve grown, whywe needed to build an organization to do this work, what guides our decisions and,

ultimately, why it all matters.

Barry Scheck and Peter Neufeld began this work in 1992 at Cardozo School of Law,and in 2004 they formed an independent organization (still affiliated with Cardozo) tobuild an institution with the capacity to do more – more cases, more reforms and morepublic education. When we started as an independent organization, there was a backlogof hundreds, perhaps thousands, of potential clients whose letters had not even beenopened in years. One of our most urgent priorities was to organize and analyze thesepotential cases so that we could begin helping more people.

Today, we have virtually no backlog of unopened requests for assistance. We receivemore requests for help than ever, and every year we are better positioned to meet thegrowing and urgent need. Our nine intake staff members research and evaluatepotential cases, and our seven attorneys, scores of volunteer attorneys, four paralegalsand 18 Cardozo clinic students handle them once they’re accepted.

Meanwhile, our policy staff works on legislation in virtually every state and at thefederal level, often in conjunction with nearly 50 organizations that belong to theInnocence Network, while our communications staff engages a wide range ofcommunities in our work. Our development team ensures that we have the resources to handle such a heavy workload, and our administration staff makes sure we’re doingit efficiently.

In just five years, we have built an institution to free the innocent and reform thecriminal justice system – an institution worthy of those who have been exonerated andthose who are still waiting. With your help, we can and will do even more in 2009 andbeyond.

F I N A N C I A L I N F O R M A T I O N 2 7

FISCAL YEAR JULY 1, 2007 - JUNE 30, 2008IncomeFoundations $1,964,016Individuals 2,466,774Corporations 137,360Donated Services 3,993,890 Events 804,866Investment Income 75,327Miscellaneous Income 10,016

$9,452,249

ExpensesProgram Services $7,371,211Management & General 992,431Fundraising 721,608

$9,085,250

Net Revenue $366,999Fund Balance July 1, 2007* $1,111,255Fund Balance June 30, 2008* $1,128,254

INFORMATION

*Does not include Board-designated reserve fund.

FOUNDATIONS 21%

INDIVIDUALS 26%

EVENTS 9%

OTHER 2%

DONATED SERVICES 42%

FUNDRAISING 8%

MANAGEMENT & GENERAL 11%

PROGRAM SERVICES 81%

FINANCIAL

OUR STAFF Olga Akselrod: Staff Attorney, Angela Amel: Social Worker, Corinne Audet: Finance and Human Resources Associate, Elena Aviles:Documents Manager, Rebecca Brown: Policy Analyst, Loretta Carty: Legal Assistant, Sarah Chu: Forensic Policy Associate, Kayan Clarke:Paralegal, Scott Clugstone: Director of Finance and Administration, Craig Cooley: Staff Attorney, Valencia Craig: Case ManagementDatabase Administrator, Jamie Cunningham: Policy Associate, Huy Dao: Case Director, Maddy deLone: Executive Director, Anamarie Diaz:Case Assistant, Ezekiel R. Edwards: Staff Attorney/ Mayer Brown Eyewitness Fellow, Eric Ferrero: Director of Communications, HeatherGatnarek: Paralegal, Nicholas Goodness: Case Coordinator, Edwin Grimsley: Case Coordinator, Barbara Hertel: Finance Associate,William Ingram: Case Assistant, Jane Jankie: Paralegal, Jeffrey Johnson: Office Manager, Matthew Kelley: Online CommunicationsManager, Jason Kreag: Staff Attorney, Christopher Lau: Paralegal, Audrey Levitin: Director of Development, David Loftis: ManagingAttorney, Alba Morales: Staff Attorney, Nina Morrison: Staff Attorney, Peter Neufeld: Co-Director, Gabriel Oberfield: Policy Reform Analyst,Charlene Piper: Special Assistant to the Executive Director, Vanessa Potkin: Staff Attorney, Kristin Pulkkinen: Assistant Director, IndividualGiving, Anthony Richardson: Policy Assistant and Database Administrator, Richard Salatiello: Director of Institutional Giving, StephenSaloom: Policy Director, Alana Salzberg: Communications Associate, Barry Scheck: Co-Director, Chester Soria: Communications Assistant,Jechonia Spruill: Database and Donor Recognition Administrator, Maggie Taylor: Senior Case Coordinator, Elizabeth Vaca: Assistant to theDirectors, Marc Vega: Case Assistant, Elizabeth Webster: Publications Manager, Elizabeth Weill-Greenberg: Case Coordinator, Emily West:Research Director, Karen Wolff: Social Worker

INNOCENCE PROJECT, INC.100 FIFTH AVENUE, 3RD FLOORNEW YORK, NEW YORK 10011

WWW.INNOCENCEPROJECT.ORG

BENJAMIN N. CARDOZO SCHOOL OF LAW,YESHIVA UNIVERSITY

Donate online at www.innocenceproject.org

The Innocence Project was founded in 1992 by Barry C. Scheck and Peter J. Neufeld at the

Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law at Yeshiva University to assist prisoners who could be

proven innocent through DNA testing. To date, over 230 people in the United States have

been exonerated by DNA testing, including 17 who served time on death row. These

people served an average of 12 years in prison before exoneration and release. The

Innocence Project’s full-time staff attorneys and Cardozo clinic students provided direct

representation or critical assistance in most of these cases. The Innocence Project’s

groundbreaking use of DNA technology to free innocent people has provided irrefutable

proof that wrongful convictions are not isolated or rare events but instead arise from

systemic defects. Now an independent nonprofit organization closely affiliated with

Cardozo School of Law at Yeshiva University, the Innocence Project’s mission is nothing less

than to free the staggering numbers of innocent people who remain incarcerated and to

bring substantive reform to the system responsible for their unjust imprisonment.