October 28th, 2011
NEIP hosted a picnic for New England exonerees and their families Monday, October 10th on George’s Island in Boston. Four New England exonerees and their families joined current and former NEIP staff for a day of food, games and discussion. This is the first time that exonerees from New England have had the chance to come together in New England and share their experiences with each other and their families. Exonerees in attendance included Bernard Baran, Scott Hornoff, Dennis Maher and Anthony Powell, who spent a combined 56 years in prison for crimes they did not commit. The event was designed to give exonerees the chance to discuss their struggles and successes adjusting to life after being freed from prison.
While some exonerees have found jobs, started families and bought houses, many struggle with the lack of resources available to help them transition to life on the outside. People who are proved innocent are often not eligible for the same post-release services available to people who are released after they complete their prison terms.
NEIP provides pro bono legal assistance to inmates who have claims of actual innocence. The New England Innocence Project’s mission is to represent persons wrongly convicted in Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island or Vermont and to advocate for the reform of our criminal justice system. It is the New England Innocence Project’s vision that no one in New England will ever go to prison for a crime he or she did not commit.
Please consider making a donation so that we can continue to fulfill our mission of helping the wrongly convicted in New England.
Clockwise from top right: Scott Hornoff passes the frisbee to Dennis Maher’s daughter Aliza. Bernard Baran (center, blue shirt) speaks to a group of NEIP staff. Anthony Powell (white shirt) with NEIP Executive Director Gretchen Bennett (navy blue shirt). Scott Hornoff’s daughter Abbie performs in front of NEIP staff. Dennis Maher and his son Josh enjoy the ferry ride to George’s Island.