Innocence Project Delaware Needs YOU!
From The Delaware Innocence Project:
Innocence Project Delaware is the local branch of the national Innocence Project and provides pro bono legal work to wrongfully convicted individuals in the state of Delaware. It is estimated that 6% (or 120,000 people) of the incarcerated population is innocent of what they were convicted of. Due to the classism and racism of the Delawarean criminal justice system, this disproportionately affects BIPOC individuals and people with low income. It also geographically affects Wilmington the most. Of the cases currently being examined, 90% are BIPOC, 100% could be considered low income, and 85% are Wilmingtonians . Additionally, Delaware’s general population is 21% Black, but 60% of its incarcerated population is Black.Delaware is a state particularly in need of a robust Innocence Project branch. Until very recently, DE has completely lacked any formal efforts for exonerating the wrongfully convicted, meaning our local branch is now working through a backlog of cases going back to 1979. The impact of exonerations in Delaware is best exemplified by the case of Marlow Wright. Mr. Wright was the youngest person ever on death row in Delaware and spent 20 years in solitary confinement for a crime he did not commit. He was finally allowed to walk free in 2015 through pro bono legal representation. Work like this changes lives and rights terrible wrongs.Our summer fundraising goal is $15,000 and we currently are roughly $2,500 away from it. A donation of $50 at this point is a full 2% of the current goal. Additionally, for larger donors, we are hosting the Chasing Freedom 2023 gala. It will be held at Cauffiel House at 1016 Philadelphia Pike, Wilmington, DE 19809 on September 14th. Our fundraising from the event will be primarily used to hire aDirector of Community Outreach and Engagement in the coming months, so as to connect with underprivileged communities that need criminal justice help the most and help them navigate pro bono legal resources.
Lest you doubt that innocent people get convicted in Delaware, this link will disabuse you of that notion.
Innocence Project Delaware was established in 2018 as the only organization focusing on claims of actual innocence for people in Delaware who have been wrongfully convicted. The project provides pro bono services to investigate and seek relief for claims of wrongful conviction. It also provides post-exoneration support to individuals who have been exonerated. Housed at Widener University Delaware Law School, Innocence Project Delaware is in the advantageous position of having law students eager to work on these important issues in a clinical setting.
BTW, here’s something I didn’t know: It costs on average $10K just for a DNA test that could exonerate someone. Several legislators and council members are helping out in various capacities. Don’t want to leave anyone out, so you’ll just have to trust me on this.
Click on this Innocence Delaware Project link and help free someone who is innocent, but remains incarcerated. It’ll make you feel good.
