Who We Are

Who We Are~`We come together as a foundation, believing that in unity there is strength, each bringing a set of experiences and convictions with respect to the phenomenon of wrongful convictions bound together in a common cause inspired by the namesake of our foundation. We believe we are a viable mix of individuals some of whom have toiled in various facets of the criminal justice system while others have endured the harassment and pain of police and prosecutorial misconduct as family members of those targeted, and still others having been the targets. We recognize the difficulty of the tasks before us, but we are encouraged by the rapidly increasing number of exonerations and accompanying heightened public awareness, not only in New York State, but also throughout the nation.

This foundation brings to the table a unique perspective, one capable of comprehensively dealing with the causes and necessary remedies for wrongful convictions because its familiarity with the subject is more than skin deep. We recognize and we are further encouraged by the good works and achievements of the mushrooming network of innocence projects, the overwhelming majority of which rely upon DNA testing advancements in their laudable achievements with hundreds of successes across the country. We, however, intend not only to avail ourselves of such technology, but also to pursue all available avenues of exposure and relief in pursuit of justice.  

Given the fact that approximately only 10% of all cases of wrongful conviction involve preserved DNA material, it is obvious to us that there is a vast reservoir of unserved wrongfully convicted and incarcerated actually innocent individuals. While we welcome DNA testable evidence whenever it is available, we intend the following: