Inocente! is a not for profit public advocacy and education program dedicated to the release of the wrongfully convicted and reform of laws that lead to wrongful conviction. Inocente! is dedicated to working throughout Latin America, and specifically in Chile, and is modeled on the successes of the California Innocence Project and Proyecto ACCESO
Since 1999, the California Innocence Project has worked to free the wrongfully convicted, train young lawyers to be justice-driven advocates, and reform inadequate legal processes that lead to wrongful convictions. Law students in the project work alongside experienced criminal defense attorneys and professors investigating and litigating cases. In the past two years, the California Innocence Project obtained the release of two clients who each had served more than 20 years in prison for crimes they had not committed.
Advances in DNA technology have made it possible to review cases where defendants were wrongfully convicted and prove their innocence. The California Innocence Project uses DNA technology to seek the release of the wrongfully convicted, trains lawyers how to use DNA technology, and works with the legislature on law reform in the area of DNA.
Since 1998, Proyecto ACCESO has trained over 2000 legal professionals in fifteen countries in Latin America in new judicial procedures. With trainers from the Public Defenders office, Public Ministry and the Ministry of Justice in Chile, Costa Rica, and other countries, Proyecto ACCESO has developed new legal technologies to address the reform process sweeping the Americas.
Chile has been chosen as the first site for Inocente! because of its success in implementing new criminal procedure reforms across the country. With oral trials, more transparent judicial process, and new technologies for investigation, Chile continues to be a leader in the region. Its universities, bar association, and private bar are committed to better justice.
We look forward to working with stakeholders to bring Inocente! to Chile. The project will seek the release of the wrongfully convicted using DNA and other forensic tools, train lawyers, and work on law reform issues related to wrongful conviction. Bringing the casework experience of the California Innocence Project, and the training mission of Proyecto ACCESO, to Chilean lawyers and law students will result in wrongfully convicted defendants being released from Chilean prisons, better-trained lawyers and law students, and positive reforms to the Chilean criminal justice system.
The California Innocence Project
Faculty and students in the California Innocence Project work to free wrongfully convicted inmates by reviewing more than 1000 claims of innocence each year, and focusing on cases where there is evidence of actual innocence. Innocence Project attorneys and students then investigate cases by tracking down and re-interviewing witnesses, examining new evidence, filing motions, securing expert witnesses, and advocating for their clients during evidentiary hearings and trials. The project is also involved in training attorneys on the use of DNA evidence and advocating for law reform in the area of wrongful convictions.
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