Now through June 30, your gift will be matched (2X)!

My name is Sean Graham. I’m the Community Reentry and Program Specialist for the Exoneree Network, a program of the New England Innocence Project (NEIP) that provides a safe community and support for exonerees and those who have suffered the traumas of long-term incarceration.

We take pride in being led by the experiences, perspectives, and voices of those directly impacted by the criminal legal system — people just like me. I was convicted as a juvenile and spent 18 years in prison. As a member of the very community I serve, I can relate to many of the feelings and experiences of our members.

I know first-hand how much power a court’s decision can have and how it impacts your real life and your future. I understand how your world suddenly changes when you learn of your release — to go from thinking “I’m never going home again” to “Wow, I’m getting an opportunity to live my life” in an instant. I know what regaining your freedom after so many years lost really feels like – this newfound ability to be whoever you want to be – to be yourself again, not just a prison number. But freedom comes with struggles, too.

And for me, regaining my freedom has meant that I now have the ability to help others with those struggles. Through my role at NEIP, I provide our community members with access to housing, psychological care, financial literacy, and technological training. I give people a chance to feel empowered again.

Will you join me in helping exonerees and freed people come home
and rebuild their lives? 

Donate today and your gift will be matched, dollar-for-dollar,
up to $25,000 (through June 30).

For me, the most significant moments in my work may seem small at first, like when an exoneree calls me to tell me he got his driver’s license or when a newly freed person tells me how relieved they are to have a little cash in their pocket. Recently, we provided a NEIP client with immediate housing through our newly created “Freedom House” and I treasured his text message where he told me he is “finally starting to feel like a real human again.” That means everything.

I can tell you firsthand that the work of the New England Innocence Project literally changes lives. Supporting this work allows people who have suffered so much to create memorable moments like raising kids, holding their grandbabies, spending time with their family, mourning those they lost, and building a future. I am so proud to be a part of that. Will you be a part of it, too?

Most sincerely,

 

Sean Graham
Community Reentry & Program Specialist, Exoneree Network
New England Innocence Project

EN Director Delivers Keynote at MBA Annual Dinner

"𝐂𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐢𝐬 𝐚 𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐢𝐜𝐞. 𝐓𝐨𝐧𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐈’𝐦 𝐚𝐬𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐭𝐨 𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐨𝐬𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐠𝐞 — 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐩𝐮𝐭 𝐛𝐢𝐚𝐬𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐧 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞; 𝐭𝐨 𝐛𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐨𝐮𝐬 𝐞𝐧𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐚𝐲 ‘𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐢𝐧 𝐦𝐲 𝐧𝐚𝐦𝐞’ 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐢𝐭 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐢𝐧𝐣𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐭𝐲.”

— Sean Ellis, exoneree and Director of the Exoneree Network

It was a perfect night last night at the ⁦Massachusetts Bar Association annual dinner where Sean Ellis (second from right), Director of the Exoneree Network, was the keynote speaker. Addressing a sold-out crowd of lawyers, Sean had the attention and intense focus of everyone in the room — you could have heard a pin drop! It was deeply moving. Thank you for being willing to share your story, Sean!

Pictured left to right: Lisa Kavanaugh, NEIP Board member and Director of the CPCS Innocence Program; Damian Turco, MBA President; Sean Ellis, exoneree and Director of the Exoneree Network; Radha Natarajan, Executive Director of the New England Innocence Project.

State of N.H. Drops Opposition to DNA Testing of Evidence in Jason Carroll Case

This is the biggest development in the case in 35 years
and is a big step forward in the fight for Jason’s freedom.

In honor of International DNA Day, it is fitting to share that, in a surprising reversal, prosecutors in New Hampshire have now agreed to DNA test evidence in Jason Carroll’s case, 17 months after we filed our initial request for testing and only days before his scheduled hearing on the issue. This means the world to Jason, who has been wrongfully imprisoned for 34 years, and is a big step forward in our fight to prove his innocence and bring him home.

NHPR’s Jason Moon just launched a new episode of Bear Brook Season 2, which features Jason’s case, entitled “Episode 9: The Reversal”. The episode takes a deep dive into this new development and what lies ahead, including an interview with Jason’s lawyer and NEIP Staff Attorney, Cynthia Mousseau.

Case update: Our fight for Jason Carroll

 
 

LATEST STORY UPDATE (Feb. 13, 2025): We continue to wait for the initial results of DNA testing. We appreciate all of the support for Jason and his family as they pursue this long journey to freedom.

State of N.H. Drops Opposition to DNA Testing of Evidence in Jason Carroll Case

This is the biggest development in the case in 35 years
and is a big step forward in the fight for Jason’s freedom.

(April 24, 2024) In a surprising reversal, prosecutors in New Hampshire have now agreed to DNA test evidence in Jason Carroll’s case, 17 months after we filed our initial request for testing and only days before his scheduled hearing on the issue. This means the world to Jason, who has been wrongfully imprisoned for 34 years and is a big step forward in our fight to prove his innocence and bring him home.

NHPR’s Jason Moon launched a new episode of Bear Brook Season 2, which features Jason’s case, entitled “Episode 9: The Reversal”. The episode takes a deep dive into this new development and what lies ahead, including an interview with Jason’s lawyer and NEIP Staff Attorney, Cynthia Mousseau.

(March 29, 2024) Arrested at 19 years old, Jason Carroll, has been in prison for 34 years for the murder of Sharon Johnson in Bedford, New Hampshire, a murder he did not commit. The only evidence linking him to the crime was his coerced confession, a story Jason provided under emotional duress and at the insistence of his own mother who was a Bedford police officer.

You may be familiar with Jason’s fight for freedom, either through our blog post, “Trying to Untell a Story: Our Fight for Jason Carroll,” or through the popular podcasts, Bear Brook Season 2, “A True Crime Story” and Undisclosed, “State v. Jason Carroll”. We wanted to share with you some updates on his case, which is still ongoing.

Permission to Test for DNA
As was documented in Season 2 of the Bear Brook podcast, after years of legal and investigative work led by NEIP Staff Attorney Cynthia Mousseau and a team of pro bono attorneys at Foley Hoag, in October of 2022, we were alerted to the existence of a box of case evidence in the basement of a New Hampshire courthouse, evidence we thought may have been destroyed. In the box were items that could help prove Jason’s innocence, including items from the crime scene and fingernail clippings taken from the victim. We immediately filed for permission to test the items for DNA.

A Second Box of Evidence
In December 2023, we were scheduled for a hearing where the court would decide if Jason would be allowed to test the items for DNA, something the state has resisted from the beginning. However, only days prior to the hearing, we learned that a second box of evidence from the case had been found!

Despite having waited so long to get a hearing just to decide if we could move forward with DNA testing, we knew that we needed more time to not only examine the second box, but to make sure there was no other evidence out there that might be able to help Jason prove his innocence. It was a tough decision, but we were able to postpone the hearing and successfully argue for Court-ordered searches to be conducted by state and local police departments for any additional case evidence. This included providing details about where they searched and who performed the searches. 

We Will be Ready
Since the Court order, state and local police have found and provided our team with hundreds of pages of documents, electronic and video recordings, and access to the second box of evidence.

It should not have taken so many years to get this evidence, but we are glad Jason finally has access to it. We are now getting ready to explain to the Court why it is so critical that Jason be allowed to test the physical evidence for DNA. It is not only important for Jason but for so many people in New Hampshire to understand the truth about this case. Our hearing is now scheduled to begin on April 30, and we will be ready.

Jason has hope, perhaps for the first time in decades, that this evidence will help prove his innocence and play a crucial role in his journey to freedom. We are inspired by the continued support of our community in our fight for justice for Jason. We will never stop until he is free and can come home to his family.

Learn More About Jason’s Story


Trying to untell a story

I have yet to meet one person that believes they would confess to a serious crime they didn’t commit. Yet, it happens all the time. In fact, there have been approximately 375 exonerations due to DNA evidence since 1989 and in 29% of those cases, the exoneree had given a false confession. This means that almost one out of three DNA exonerations involved a false confession. And these statements have a tremendous impact in a courtroom. Confessions are so powerful, in fact, that juries will often discount actual physical evidence if it contradicts the confession. Just ask Jeffrey Deskovic who, at 16, confessed to the rape and murder of a classmate. Even though DNA from the semen taken from the victim’s body didn’t match Jeff, the jury convicted him. Jeff wasn’t exonerated until 15 years later when further DNA testing showed that the semen belonged to a known murderer who eventually confessed to the crime. 

Our client, Jason Carroll, definitely didn’t think he would ever confess to something he didn’t do. And even after he told police the story they wanted to hear, hoping the truth would come out in the end, he never believed a jury would ignore the fact that his statements didn’t match the undisputed evidence in the case and convict him. But that’s exactly what happened. Click to continue.

Watch our video below, an excerpt from our annual event, “Voices of the Innocent,” hear directly from Staff Attorney Cynthia Mousseau, Jason’s sister Jackie, and Jason’s friends and learn more about Jason’s case.

Bear Brook, Season 2: “A True Crime Story”

Season Two of NHPR’s Jason Moon’s podcast, Bear Brook: A True Crime Story delves into the murder of Sharon Johnson and how a false confession, a story Jason provided under emotional duress, led to his wrongful conviction. 

We are grateful to people who amplify stories of wrongful conviction and the long journeys to freedom. If you haven’t listened to Bear Brook Season 2 and want an exclusive behind the scenes look, please tune in and share it with your friends and family.

Bear Brook: “A True Crime Story” Behind the Scenes
Video of our Live Virtual Event

Did you miss our exclusive live virtual event with Bear Brook Podcast creator, Jason Moon and NEIP Staff Attorney, Cynthia Mousseau, who represents Jason in his fight for freedom? You can now watch and share the video.

Bringing Our Community Together

Joy and Healing Abound at the 2024 Innocence Network Conference

Boston represented in New Orleans, March 22-23, at the 2024 Innocence Network Conference, the world's largest gathering of exonerees, freed people, their families, and advocates. More than 1,200 people attended this year's gathering including approximately 400 exonerees and freed people — together they lost 6,654+ years wrongfully imprisoned for crimes they did not commit.

The joy is palpable when this community comes together to heal and connect after the trauma of long-term incarceration. Thanks to everyone who made this trip possible through your support of the New England Innocence Project and the Exoneree Network. We had 15 exonerees and freed people from New England attend this year, thanks to your support. Collectively, they lost more than 415 years wrongfully imprisoned. Learn more about how you can support exonerees and freed people who have experienced a wrongful conviction as they work to rebuild their lives.

Learn about the healing power of coming together for the Innocence Network conference with our video of the 2023 IN Conference in Phoenix, Arizona below.

NEIP Executive Director Named Lawyer of the Year

 
 

NEIP Executive Director, Radha Natarajan, alongside co-counsel Charlotte Whitmore of the Boston College Innocence Program, were recognized by Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly as 2023 Lawyers of the Year for their work representing Mr. Thomas Rosa, an innocent man whose murder conviction was overturned last year based on new DNA and eyewitness identification evidence. 

In his September 2023 decision overturning the wrongful conviction, Judge Ricciuti found that the new DNA evidence “debunks the prosecution’s closing statement” and “casts doubt regarding the reliability of the eyewitness testimony” in a case where the evidence against Mr. Rosa was "far from overwhelming" to begin with.

The Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office must now decide whether to dismiss the charges against Mr. Rosa or proceed with a fourth trial. Despite a court order requiring the Commonwealth to preserve the physical evidence in the case, the Commonwealth lost the murder weapon as well as other evidence from the crime scene.

Commenting on the state of the case today, Radha Natarajan stated, “I would hope that no prosecutor would bring a murder case today on the evidence or the lack of evidence that exists in this case.” 

The New England Innocence Project, alongside Attorney Mark Loevy-Reyes, continues to represent Mr. Rosa in Suffolk Superior Court until this wrongful conviction nightmare, which has now spanned nearly 4 decades, is over.

A Significant Year for Freedom

Working toward freedom with love for the people and communities we serve is more than I could have hoped for as a lawyer. While each of the 8 years I’ve worked at the New England Innocence Project has been significant to me, this year has truly been one of the most memorable.

Here are just some of the many ways we’ve made an impact in 2023:

  • In January, one of our clients, Brother Sabree, walked out of prison after nearly 50 years of incarceration. While we are still fighting to overturn his conviction, witnessing him experience freedom has been a truly precious gift.

  • In May, Nancy Wagner’s wrongful conviction was overturned after she had spent 30 years in prison for the accidental death of her beloved daughter. After she was finally free of this case, she married the love of her life.

  • In September, Tommy Rosa’s wrongful conviction was overturned based on new DNA evidence after he had spent 34 years in prison for a murder he did not commit. Tommy was my very first client at the New England Innocence Project, and seeing him reunited in freedom with his wife, Virginia, is incredibly moving.

  • In October, we filed a motion to overturn the wrongful conviction of Edward Wright, who has already spent 39 years in prison for a crime he did not commit. This was the first step in pursuing his freedom, one that was years in the making.

  • And all year, our New Hampshire staff attorneys have been fighting to get DNA testing so that Jason Carroll can finally demonstrate his innocence.

Of course, these moments of joy and hope came only after years of visiting people in prison, tracking down case files, investigating witnesses, testing evidence, consulting with experts, researching and writing, arguing in court, and so much more. Every second spent on these cases and every dollar invested in the service of our community is worth it in the fight for freedom for those who have been wrongfully convicted.

Moments like these are created by movements of people, all of whom are working together toward a common purpose. In 2024, we will celebrate the New England Innocence Project’s 20th anniversary — 20 years of building the movement; fighting for freedom alongside individuals, families, and communities; and pursuing meaningful change to the criminal legal system. I am honored to be in this movement for freedom with you. With you by our side, I know that we can commemorate this milestone with the strongest foundation to pursue justice in 2024 and beyond.

Thank you for being part of our community.

Most sincerely,

Radha Natarajan
Executive Director
New England Innocence Project

From MCI-Framingham to Freedom

Thirty-three years is a long time to wait. For our first female client and my dear friend, Nancy Wagner (formerly McGeoghean, pictured right), that’s how long it took to overturn her wrongful conviction. For seven of those years, the New England Innocence Project (NEIP) stood alongside Nancy and fought for her freedom.  

I first met Nancy in 2016. I was ushered into one of the small attorney meeting rooms at the Framingham Women’s Prison and was greeted by a gentle, soft-spoken woman accompanied by a doting Labrador retriever – one of many she trained for people with disabilities as part of the “NEADS” program.  

At the age of 21, Nancy was wrongfully convicted of murdering her beloved 23-month-old daughter, Sarah. Science would later reveal that Sarah had in fact died in a tragic accident while sleeping in her car seat at home. However, this was long before anyone knew of the dangers of accidental asphyxiation by car seat straps. Nancy chose to go to trial, trusting that the legal system would uncover the truth that she would never intentionally cause harm to her daughter, but it took many more decades for that to happen. 

Having just returned to work after giving birth to my own baby girl, I could not imagine suffering such a tremendous loss. While I could not bring Sarah back, I wanted to do all I could to correct the compounding tragedy of Nancy’s wrongful conviction.  

That first visit began our seven-year journey that would involve the work of a team of attorneys led by Michael Fee from Verrill and many dedicated people from Latham & Watkins. Revealing the truth in Nancy’s case required the expertise of five skilled experts in psychology, forensic pathology, pediatrics, and serology. 

Over the last seven years, Nancy and I developed a deep friendship involving weekly phone calls and many visits inside Framingham Women’s Prison. After her release in 2020, we transitioned to walks around Cambridge Common and frequent texts as Nancy quickly became adept at technology. 

Finally, on May 24, 2023, Middlesex Superior Court Judge Joshua Wall overturned Nancy’s first-degree murder conviction. The Court’s decision [link] granting Nancy’s Motion for New Trial recognized the “compelling” new evidence that Sarah was not murdered but rather died by accidental asphyxiation while sleeping in her car seat. Judge Wall wrote that, “[i]t appears that the trial resulted in an unjust conviction which must be vacated as the only fair remedy.” Rather than face another trial where she would have to trust a system that had failed her, Nancy chose closure through what’s called an Alford plea, ending the case while still maintaining her innocence. 

I’m often asked why correcting wrongful convictions takes so long, and the difficult truth is that we work within a legal system designed to maintain convictions.  Nancy’s wrongful conviction is unfortunately not rare: It is similar to that of so many other women wrongfully convicted of harming their children because most of these (70%) were also cases in which no crime actually occurred. 

Through all the challenges, Nancy showed amazing resilience. After her release in 2020, she began working and supporting herself almost immediately. She got her driver’s license, reconnected with a vast network of family and friends who supported her throughout her lengthy incarceration, and navigated a world that had drastically changed since 1990. 

After Nancy’s case was finally over, I had the great pleasure of witnessing two events that would have been impossible to imagine on that first visit at the Framingham Women’s Prison. In August, I attended Nancy’s wedding to her husband Ray, a warm and energetic man whose friendship helped her keep hope alive while she was in prison. In September, I watched as Nancy spoke bravely on stage in front of more than 200 people as part of NEIP’s annual Voices of the Innocent event. After so many years of living trapped inside a harmful and untrue narrative, Nancy was able to tell a part of her own story unafraid and secure in her freedom. Moments like these, while they don’t come often enough, are the reason we keep fighting for freedom. 

Thank You to Our Community

Thanks to everyone who attended our fall fundraisers, Jammin’ for Justice and Running for Innocence, and made them such a tremendous success! There is so much joy and healing when we bring our community together and the funds raised help support our work and enable newly freed and exonerated people can attend the 2024 Innocence Network conference in New Orleans.

October 19 was our third annual Jammin’ for Justice event, which included a very special line-up of local musicians who came together to honor the memory of Massachusetts exoneree Ray Champagne and to benefit the work of the Exoneree Network, which Ray co-founded with fellow exonerees Sean Ellis and Victor Rosario.

On November 5, our team returned to the Lexington Battlegreen 5K/10K with the goal of raising $10,000. This event offered options for runners and non-runners of all ages and included a welcoming group of supporters who cheered on our exoneree team members, all of whom inspire us to continue this important work.

Please enjoy the photo album below which includes images from both events.

Giving Tuesday is November 28

November 28 - December 31 Your Gift Will Be Doubled (2X)

Mark your calendars for Giving Tuesday (11/28), a global day of giving, and the launch of our 2023 match campaign. From November 28 - December 31, every dollar donated to the New England Innocence Project will be doubled (2X) for twice the impact (up to $50,000), thanks to an anonymous donor. Don’t miss this unique chance to help fuel our fight against injustice and reunite more families in the coming year.

Please bookmark this page and come back soon to make your 2X gift!

 
 

Bear Brook Podcast, Behind the Scenes: November 30

Bear Brook Podcast: "A True Crime Story," Behind the Scenes
A Live Virtual Event

November 30 | 11:00 AM

Join us for an exclusive virtual event, Bear Brook Podcast: "A True Crime Story," Behind the Scenes, happening on Thursday, Nov. 30 at 11:00 a.m. (EST) and hosted by the New England Innocence Project. Learn about the wrongful conviction story of Jason Carroll who, at the age of 19, was arrested for the murder of Sharon Johnson in Bedford, New Hampshire, and has spent 34 years in prison fighting for his freedom.

Together with one of Jason’s lawyers, Cynthia Mousseau, we'll take you behind the scenes of Season 2 of the popular Bear Brook Podcast, discuss the phenomenon of false confessions, explore the evidence, and provide updates on Jason’s journey to freedom. Get a chance to hear from Bear Brook Podcast creator, Jason Moon, Senior Reporter and Producer for NHPR, ask burning questions, and gain insights into his investigative and storytelling process. This event is a must-attend for Bear Brook podcast enthusiasts and for people who care deeply about justice.

Don't miss this opportunity to learn more about the making of Bear Brook: A True Crime Story and Jason Carroll's case. Mark your calendars and join us online for this live virtual behind-the-scenes exclusive.

TICKETS ARE FREE. Registering for the event will automatically opt you into our New England Innocence Project e-mail newsletter.

Join us for these upcoming events!

Jammin’ for Justice
October 19 | 6 - 9 p.m.
The Burren, Somerville

In this third annual Jammin’ for Justice event, a very special line-up of local musicians joins forces to honor the memory of Massachusetts exoneree Ray Champagne and to benefit the work of the Exoneree Network, which Ray co-founded with fellow exonerees Sean Ellis and Victor Rosario. Specifically, concert proceeds will help ensure newly freed and exonerated people will have the opportunity to attend the 2024 Innocence Network Conference where this community can come together to heal and connect after the trauma of long-term incarceration.

Running for Innocence:
Lexington Battlegreen 5K/10K
November 5

On November 5, our team will return to the Lexington Battlegreen 5K/10K with the goal of raising $10,000. This event offers options for runners and non-runners of all ages and is a wonderful opportunity to meet and welcome our exoneree team members, all of whom inspire us to continue this important work. Funds raised will help pay for investigators and experts to free innocent people incarcerated for crimes they did not commit and will enable recent exonerees to attend the 2024 Innocence Network conference in New Orleans.

Sweeney Todd:
October 13 — November 5 (Talk Back, Oct. 29)
Arrow Street Arts, Cambridge

Join us for Moonbox Productions’ performance of Sweeney Todd, running from October 13 to November 5 at Arrow Street Arts in Cambridge. A portion of each ticket sale will go to the New England Innocence Project. NEIP will participate in a ‘talk back’ with the audience after the 3 p.m. matinee show on October 29, 2023.

Join us for Jammin' for Justice, October 19

Join us for "Jammin' for Justice"
Thursday, October 19 (6 - 9 p.m.)
The Burren | Somerville, MA

In this third annual Jammin’ for Justice event, a very special line-up of local musicians joins forces to honor the memory of Massachusetts exoneree Ray Champagne and to support the work of the Exoneree Network, which Ray co-founded with fellow exonerees Sean Ellis and Victor Rosario.

Ray Champagne spent more than four decades in prison for a crime he did not commit before finally achieving his freedom and exoneration in 2020. From the moment of his release until his untimely death on July 12, 2022 in a tragic motorcycle accident, Ray devoted himself fearlessly and generously to developing resources and healing spaces for the growing numbers of people freed from wrongful convictions. He overcame an intense fear of public speaking in order to participate in virtual and in-person events for audiences ranging from high school students to appellate lawyers to state legislators. And in April 2022, he took his first airplane flight since 1974 to attend the annual Innocence Network conference in Phoenix, AZ, accompanied by a remarkable group of others recently freed from Massachusetts prisons and the advocates who helped them achieve their freedom.

Musical guests include Zach Meyer (mandolin) and Rachel Rosenberg (fiddler & vocalist) of The Talking Hearts, a cutting edge honky-tonk band from Boston. Innocence Attorney (and Jammin for Justice founder) Jeff Harris and the “Friends of Ray,” including Boston-based guitarist Andrew Sue Wing, will perform original songs of exoneration along with some of Ray’s favorites from the Spotify playlist which Ray created for his fellow classmates from Tufts University after completing a semester-long Inside Out course offered at Souza Baranowski Correctional Center in the fall of 2019. Ray’s lawyer and CPCS Innocence Program Director, Lisa Kavanaugh, and Exonoree Sean Ellis will speak about their departed friend, Ray. Rounding out the evening, a group of remarkable exoneree musicians, led by Joseph Pope and Albert Brown — the “OGs” — will share some of the tunes that they first wrote and performed together while wrongfully incarcerated for crimes they did not commit.

Concert proceeds will benefit the Exoneree Network, with the goal of ensuring that another inspiring group of men and women freed from Massachusetts prisons for crimes they did not commit will have the opportunity to attend the 2024 Innocence Network Conference, just as Ray was fortunate enough to do in 2022.

Tickets are on sale now, get them while you can!

Learn about the healing power of coming together for the Innocence Network conference with our video of the 2023 IN Conference in Phoenix, Arizona below.

Watch the video!

Exonerees Lobby to Reform Massachusetts Compensation Law on International Wrongful Conviction Day

Exonerees Lobby to Reform Massachusetts Compensation Law
on International Wrongful Conviction Day

 
 

On October 2, International Wrongful Conviction Day, people freed and exonerated after a wrongful conviction gathered at the Massachusetts State House to advocate for S. 1101 (sponsored by Senator Pat Jehlen), H. 1752 (sponsored by Rep. Jeffrey N. Roy), and H. 1820 (sponsored by Rep. Christopher J. Worrell), bills to reform the Commonwealth’s inadequate laws addressing compensation for those who have suffered the trauma of wrongful imprisonment and long-term incarceration.

Wrongful Conviction Day is a day to raise awareness of the causes and remedies of wrongful convictions and to recognize the tremendous personal, social, and emotional costs of wrongful convictions for innocent people and their families. The event was organized by the Exoneree Network, a peer-led initiative funded by the New England Innocence Project.

Speaking at a press conference on the State House steps, Sean Ellis, director of the Exoneree Network said, “These bills are so important. When I came home eight and a half years ago, I had nothing. If it weren’t for the kindness of family and friends, I wouldn’t have had a place to sleep or food to eat. Many people don’t even have that – let alone supportive services, job training, education, and the guidance you need to re-enter the outside world in a healthy and successful way.” Ellis spent 22 years in prison for a crime he did not commit.

"Once people hear the stories of innocent people who spent decades in prison and had to fight for months or even years to get some compensation, they become advocates for paying this great moral debt," said Senator Jehlen. "Sean Ellis, Denis Maher and other exonerees organized this day for exonerees to talk to their own legislators. People who have been wrongfully convicted and imprisoned come out with no job, no resume, no housing, no driver’s license, no credit history, no knowledge even of cell phones or other technology.  They need immediate help to get on their feet and more adequate compensation for the loss of many years of their lives." 

Lisa Kavanaugh, director of the CPCS Innocence Program said, “What many people don’t understand is that when someone is freed and after a wrongful conviction – that moment so often captured with a triumphant photograph outside the courthouse doors – they are not automatically entitled to anything from the state. These bills make important strides to address that harsh reality”

"The conversation around wrongful convictions has yet to be a priority of the national criminal justice agenda. It is time we begin to protect our exonerated constituents by solidifying the crucial transition services that the state owes them," said Representative Chris Worrell. "Passing House Bill H.1820 would lift the cap on compensation, standardize transitional assistance funding payments, and would bring some semblance of justice to falsely convicted people."

“I can’t think of a more difficult undertaking than being forced to sit in jail as a wrongfully convicted person. It’s not only unjust, but it robs the person of every fundamental of the freedoms guaranteed to us under our laws and constitution,” said State Representative Jeff Roy (D-Franklin). “H.1752 attempts to right the injustice by providing exonerees with up to $20,000 to meet post incarceration needs such as housing, health care, obtaining personal identification, transportation, electronics such as cell phones, skills training for employment and other post- exoneration needs. It removes barriers that contribute to delay, changes the standard of evidence proof, and lifts the cap on compensation allowing the court or jury to take such factors as loss of income during incarceration, the length and condition of incarceration and any other factors the court deems appropriate into consideration. It seeks to redress the wrong suffered and does so in a way that is tailored to the circumstances of each individual who was wrongfully convicted.”

Among other reforms, these bills propose to:

  • Remove the current cap on compensation to allow for significant periods of incarceration;

  • Provide immediate $5,000 assistance upon release;

  • Clarify that state services can be provided on top of financial compensation; and

  • Provide compensation for people who can prove their innocence, even if their convictions were vacated on other grounds.

Hearings on the bills were heard by the joint Judiciary Committee in May of this year. Exonerees visited legislators, including committee chairs and their staffs, to push for the bills to be favorably reported out. 

The Massachusetts Bar Association also expressed support for the legislation. Damian Turco, the Association’s President, said, "The Commonwealth's obligation to rectify the miscarriage of justice experienced by someone who was wrongly incarcerated should not end with the individual's exoneration. But our current laws provide too little compensation and support once individuals are released. The proposed legislation, which we strongly endorse, removes obstacles and increases the financial assistance and access to state services necessary to make wrongfully convicted individuals whole after unjustly losing years of their lives in prison."

More about the compensation bills:

 
 

Join us for Voices of the Innocent: Against All Odds, September 14

September 14, 2023
6:00 p.m.
City Winery | 80 Beverly St., Boston

Food, Drinks, Program, and Dessert
Business Attire

Please join the New England Innocence Project’s annual storytelling event and fundraiser, Voices of the Innocent on September 14 at City Winery Boston. Hear stories from innocent people impacted by wrongful convictions and their loved ones and learn what it takes to persevere in the fight for freedom. We’re bringing our community together in person for the first time since our inaugural Voices of the Innocent event in 2019 and we can’t wait to share this memorable evening with you!

Funds raised through this event directly support the work of the New England Innocence Project by providing forensic testing, investigation, experts, an experienced legal team, and social service advocates to free innocent people, bring them home to their loved ones, and help them rebuild their lives in freedom. With your help, we can also educate and advocate for systemic change to prevent future tragedies.

Please join us immediately following the program for a community conversation with people
directly impacted by wrongful convictions.

Our Impact Report is here!

Your Support Makes a Big Impact
Impact Report: June 2022 - 2023


Every June, we take a moment to reflect on the past year. We take stock of all that we experience together as a community, moments of pure joy as well as times of great sadness. We expect and encounter fierce resistance in this work, but it’s the growing power and force of the movement that motivates us every day to continue the fight. We could not be more proud of the work we have done together and the real and life-changing impact of our efforts, but there is so much work left to do.

As you can see in this year’s Impact Report below, when you make a gift to the New England Innocence Project, you help to:

  • Free people throughout New England who have been wrongfully convicted and reunite them with their loved ones

  • Shine a light on injustice and amplify the stories of people most impacted

  • Cultivate collective solutions to address systemic issues that have led to wrongful convictions, including official misconduct

  • Shift policy to help prevent wrongful convictions from happening in the future and provide just compensation for those who have suffered a wrongful conviction

  • Support people upon their release and unite and uplift our community 

Click below to view an interactive PDF of our June 2022 - 2023 Impact Report and learn more about memorable moments and some of the many ways your support has been making an impact over the last 12 months.

Click each photo in the report for detailed impact updates.

Updates from the Exoneree Network

Building the Infrastructure to Support the Community,
June 2022 - June 2023

With the vision laid out by its founders – Victor Rosario, Ray Champagne, and Sean Ellis – the Exoneree Network used this past year to build its infrastructure to best support the community of exonerees, people freed but still fighting a wrongful conviction, and those coming home after long-term incarceration. It has been a busy year for the Exoneree Network, and here are just a few of the highlights:

  • Building the Team: Director Sean Ellis built a team of people who are skilled and deeply committed to this work based on their backgrounds and life experiences, making it possible to offer additional resources and services to exonerees and freed people. Please join us in welcoming our new EN staff members:

    • Carolina Nunes, Operations Administrator

    • Shar’Day Taylor, Social Services Advocate

    • Sean Graham, Community Reentry & Program Specialist

  • Funding the Vision: The Exoneree Network has worked to build funding for its vision. During just this last year, EN received funding from:

    • The Massachusetts Legislature

    • The City of Boston Returning Citizens Grant

    • The Columbus Foundation

    • The Boston Foundation’s Open Door Grant

    • Public support via the New England Innocence Project

  • Impacting the Community: Just a few of the things the Exoneree Network has been able to provide for people and families in the community:

    • Immediate financial support

    • Rental subsidies/Emergency Housing

    • Laptops

    • Phones & Phone Plans

    • Technology Trainings

    • Cognitive Behavioral Theory training

    • Couples Support training

    • Family and Partner Healing Circles

    • Speaking fees

    • Transportation

    • Support to obtain benefits, identification, and medical services

  • Raising Awareness: The Exoneree Network has made great strides in formalizing the program and using their platform to raise awareness about wrongful convictions and the long and difficult journey exonerees and freed people face upon release, including:

    • Solidifying its mission and vision

    • Launching the official EN social media channels, including Facebook and Instagram

    • Hosting a logo contest and finalizing their new official EN logo

    • Participating in speaking opportunities and events to talk about the work of the Exoneree Network on a regular basis

    • Participating in media interviews to help amplify their stories and talk about issues that impact people returning from long-term incarceration

    • Advocating for their fellow community members by showing up to court hearings to lend their support

    • Working toward the goal of ensuring all exonerees and freed people know they are not alone and have access to support upon their release

Freedom Party 2023

A Celebration of Freedom & Community

Photo credit: Thaddeus Miles

On June 10, we witnessed the true power of community at the 3rd annual Celebration of Freedom & Community, a private event for exonerees and freed people, and their loved ones. We are reminded that rebuilding after long-term incarceration is a long journey and that support from the Exoneree Network is vital to the healing process. We celebrated newly freed people attending the event for the first time and we held space for those who could not be with us. When we come together, we are a powerful force. We hold so much gratitude in our hearts for days like this.