IPNO frees innocent people sentenced to life in prison and those serving unjust sentences. We recognize the root causes of wrongful convictions and unjust sentences as systemic racism and inequities. We work to expose and address these root causes by sharing our clients’ stories in court, the legislature, the community and the media. We support our clients living well and fully in the world after their release.
DID YOU KNOW
Mistaken identifications are a leading factor in wrongful convictions.
0
%
of the 551 DNA exonerations in the United States involved mistaken eyewitness
identifications.
0
out of 22
Louisiana DNA exonerations involved mistaken eyewitness identifications. Two of these men were sentenced to death.
In
0
non-DNA Louisiana exonerations, innocent men were sentenced to life in prison
due to mistaken eyewitness identifications.
“Thirteen minutes of deliberations by a jury. Guilty as charged, based solely on the unsubstantiated and uncorroborated testimony of one witness who didn’t see the actual shooting. Me and my codefendant had our freedom taken away on that. We were sentenced to spend the balance of our natural lives at hard labor in custody of the Louisiana State Penitentiary at Angola, without benefit of parole, probation, or suspension of sentence. There was a lot of hand-shaking going on among the prosecutors. My mom was in tears.”
–Gregory Bright
Exonerated: June 24, 2003 in Louisiana
Latest IPNO News
New Orleans man who served 36 years for rape he didn't commit released from prison Sullivan Walter, 53, says he is ready "to live an honest, free life” Convicted at age 17 of a rape he didn't commit, Sullivan Walter,…
He spent 36 years behind bars for a crime he didn't commit Sullivan Walter was released from prison after being wrongly convicted for a crime in New Orleans. Author: Eleanor Tabone Published: 9:45 PM CDT August 26, 2022 Updated: 10:07 PM CDT…
25 years after wrongful conviction, a man is free from Angola Cedric Dent spent 25 years in Angola for a crime he didn't commit. Author: Eleanor Tabone Published: 10:11 PM CDT August 9, 2022 Updated: 10:11 PM CDT August 9, 2022 NEW…
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Innocence Project New Orleans represents innocent people and people unjustly sentenced to life in prison at no cost to them or their loved ones. We could not do this without you.
