Last weekend, our community gathered in Chicago for the Innocence Network annual conference—a space rooted in learning, healing, and connection, and attended by community members from around the globe.

A group of our staff, alongside freed people, exonerees, and their loved ones, traveled together to be part of this powerful gathering. For many, this conference is more than a professional event—it’s a rare and meaningful opportunity to be surrounded by others who truly understand the long journey into freedom and what comes after.

This year, 13 people from our community who were freed or exonerated attended. Together, they represent nearly 400 years of wrongful conviction.

Community members Kevin Francis, Keith Winfield, and Eddie Wright, presented an important session for litigators at the conference called "Experts from the Inside: Client Perspectives on Post-Conviction Lawyering."

During the session, which was moderated by our Senior Staff Attorney Stephanie Hartung, they shared the valuable insights they gained from fighting for years to secure their freedom and collectively working with dozens of post-conviction attorneys.

Together, Kevin, Eddie, and Keith represent more than 100 years of wrongful conviction:

Kevin was released in August 2025 after serving 43 years
Eddie was released in July 2025 after serving 41 years
Keith was released in January 2025 after serving nearly 18 years

The Innocence Network conference is one of the few spaces where legal professionals, advocates, exonerees, freed people, and their loved ones come together not just to discuss policy or cases, but to build community. It was an honor to stand alongside the individuals whose strength and leadership continues to drive this movement forward.