The Innocence Project New Orleans (IPNO) received a $600,000 Project Grant from the U.S. Department of Justice's Bureau of Justice Assistance (CFDA 16.746 Capital Case Litigation Initiative) to support the review of potential wrongful convictions in Louisiana caused by inadequate prior legal representation standards.
The grant will enable IPNO to screen cases with an A/B priority rating and arrest dates prior to the implementation of Louisiana's 2011 public defender reforms. IPNO will conduct investigative reviews on selected cases to identify the likelihood of wrongful conviction due to ineffective assistance of counsel. Reviewed cases will then be closed, referred to other services, resolved, or forwarded for IPNO's direct legal representation. This project builds on IPNO's prior success in exonerating four individuals through claims of inadequate defense, and aims to maximize information gathering without triggering immediate filing deadlines. The award period runs from October 1, 2024 to September 30, 2027.
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