Innocence Blog

Friday Roundup: Freedom for Thanksgiving

Posted: November 27, 2009 10:06 am

Happy post-Thanksgiving from all of us at the Innocence Project. This week, we’re giving thanks for all of the 18 people exonerated through DNA testing this year and thinking about the work ahead to free the countless innocent people who remain behind bars in the U.S.

In case you missed it, this week we asked five Innocence Project clients what they are most thankful for. Their inspiring answers are here.

Here’s some other news we didn’t get to on the Innocence Blog during the week:

Mario Rocha is in his first semester of college after serving a decade in prison for a murder evidence shows he didn’t commit.
 
Johnnie Savory, a Chicago man released on parole in 2006 after 30 years in prison, is still seeking DNA testing that could prove his innocence. Learn more about his case and sign a petition for DNA testing here.

A new hearing has been set for February in the case of a North Carolina man seeking to overturn his 1991 conviction for a crime he has always maintained he didn’t commit.

The Montana Supreme Court ruled yesterday that a lower court must hold an evidentiary hearing in the case of Barry Beach, who has served 25 years for a murder he says he didn’t commit.

Today is Black Friday, which means holiday shopping season has begun. To support the Innocence Project as you shop online this year, download the We-Care Reminder, a tool that lets you direct a percentage of online purchases from over 1,000 stores (including Target, Amazon.com, Orbitz and many more) to support our work at no cost to you.

Gift donations to the Innocence Project also make great holiday presents. Make a gift donation here.