Northern California Innocence Project

NCIP Clinic #StudentSpotlight features Miriam Contreras, 3L at Santa Clara Law, who says this about her NCIP experience: Before NCIP, I, like many people, assumed DNA and forensic science were extremely reliable. None of my other law school classes addressed faulty or false science and its role in wrongful convictions. Learn more about our students at ncip.org #exonerate #educate #reform

With heavy hearts, NCIP shares the news of the recent passing of Rhonda Dyer. After a long career at Hewlett Packard, Rhonda joined the NCIP team in 2006 as our database administrator to help us establish and maintain a case management system to track client correspondence and case progress. Over the last decade, Rhonda’s work and networks were instrumental in helping NCIP to customize and troubleshoot its case management system, improve its case flow process, and to upgrade ...case management platforms including the migration of more than 8,000 case files and 25,000 contacts to a new system. Rhonda’s contributions to our work and how we work cannot be understated. In addition to her work at NCIP, Rhonda was a longtime and active member of the California Rescue Dog Association (CARDA). While with CARDA, Rhonda and her beloved dogs deployed on more than 500 search and rescue operations and won many accolades and awards. Nearly a year ago, Rhonda was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer. Though chemotherapy and cancer treatments took their toll, Rhonda battled fiercely. She was pragmatic, humble, generous, energetic, a real straight-shooter and had the best laugh. Rhonda did not want a memorial service or an obituary, but she did leave us with an article she authored a few years ago that discussed two things that were important to herSearch and Rescue and NCIP. We will miss Rhonda greatly. Read a perspectives piece written by Rhonda at http://ncip.org/wp-content/uploads/2022//Missing-Pieces.pdf

California Innocence Coalition needs the help of Senate District 25 residents to contact Senator Anthony J. Portantino to support Senate Bill 243: End Wrongful Convictions Act. Use the link in our bio for more details on SB 243 and a sample letter to send Senator Anthony Portantino that voices your support! #reform #calegislature

Last year CA PASSED the Racial Justice Act, but it was amended to only apply to cases from Jan 2021-on. #AB256 will allow its protections to apply to anyone currently impacted by the criminal-legal system. #RJA4All #confrontracism Ash Kalra

NCIP is celebrating 20 years of exonerating the wrongfully convicted! Lionel Rubalcava was exonerated in May 2019 after spending 17 years wrongfully incarcerated. We need your help to continue the fight for #freedom! Donate today at ncip.org! #NCIP20

Tomorrow 5/14/21, NCIP will be hosting an orientation for policy advocacy volunteers! This is your chance to make an impact and signing up is easy. Go to http://bttr.im/xwcbj or ncip.org/volunteer-intern/ to learn more #reform #calegislature #cainnocencecoalition

On April 30th, NCIP client Maurice Caldwell Spoke with NCIP Attorney Paige Kaneb and NCIP staff Michele Canny about what #SecondChanceMonth meant to him. Maurice gave a touching and informative insight as someone who is still fighting to be fully innocent in the eyes of the legal system. Watch the full interview at https://fb.watch/5s8AklSjwH/

Yesterday NCIP client Jeremy Puckett was found factually innocent, which means he is eligible for compensation in the state of California. Congratulations Jeremy! #justice

Check out our website updates at ncip.org including our Request A Speaker page, Take Action page and Shelter Series page

#TheMoreYouKnow with @scuoml who created an amazing graphic to bring attention to the ‘Intersectionality of Race and Justice’ during #povertyawarenessmonth Support NCIP today by donating and helping us fight for those who are wrongfully convicted at ncip.org

Here is to 20 years of NCIP! We are excited to have all of our supporters celebrate with us! #NCIP20 Stay up to date with us on our upcoming events and ways to get involved. Thank you for being a part of the celebration

Thank you to everyone who donated and supported NCIP in 2020, your contribution helps us continue to fight for the freedom of our clients! Let’s make this another great year, donate today at ncip.org #freedom #justice . . . .... . . Music: A New Beginning Musician: Agnese Valmaggia See more

According to Stony Brook University, this project features leaders sharing ambitious ideas and imaginative solutions for education and the global future. Dr. Yusef Salaam gives his incredible words of wisdom that we hope you all will enjoy. Thank you to Stony Brook University for their 5 Questions series that gives Dr. Yusef Salaam a voice to share his thoughts with us. #WednesdayWisdom Be sure to check out NCIP’s talk with Dr. Yusef Salaam on Human Rights Day available on ncip.org/hrd-event/

Thank you to Dr. Yusef Salaam for speaking at our Human Rights Day event, to watch the full event, go to ncip.org/hrd-event/

**ATTENTION** California Exonerees are invited to participate in this quick survey created by Exonerated Nation and Touro University California Go to https://tuc.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_3Vmm40YnHYemWBD to take the survey.

Street Soldiers Radio featured guest speakers from NCIP, including Ronnie Sandoval, mother of exoneree Arthur Carmona, and Zavion Johnson, and FLY (Fresh Lifelines for Youth). Check out the full interview at facebook.com/Alive&Free/

Congratulations to all those who passed the bar in California this weekend! Including our very own Equal Justice Works Fellow Lauryn Bruton-Barbosa!

Today is #nationalcatday here are some of the furry felines of NCIP!

Don’t miss out on our final installment of Fall Shelter Series with NCIP and our community leaders at FLY (Fresh Lifelines for Youth) on Street Soldiers Radio this Sunday, Dec. 20 at 8pm PST - listen on 106.1 KMEL or on Facebook Live at facebook.com/StayAliveAndFree/live/ Thank you to Street Soldiers for having NCIP back on your show!

Congratulations to former NCIP fellow Meghan Piano on her The Heart of the Office Award 2020 given by the Santa Clara County Public Defender’s office. We love to see our NCIP family doing great things!

Congratulations to the new Dean of Santa Clara Law Michael J Kaufman, former Dean of Loyola University Chicago School of Law. Dean Kaufman said in a press release for Santa Clara University, I am overjoyed and honored to join the Santa Clara University community. The School of Law is a transformative learning community with tremendous distinctive strengths. I feel blessed to have the opportunity to work together with the entire Santa Clara community to build on those strengt...hs, to harmonize the law school’s core social justice mission with its signature high tech programs, to achieve our shared vision of educational excellence, and to shape the future of the practice of law and the future of justice. Together, we can grow a law school community that incarnates our vital Jesuit, Catholic mission and promotes student access, formation, and success. See more

Join us and learn about NCIP's work beyond the courts and Capitol.

October is #youthjusticeawarenessmonth What does reimagining justice mean to you? Restorative justice works to heal the community. Our youth deserve community support.

Learn more about the recently passed Racial Justice Act in this community training today at 1pm-2pm PST at https://www.facebook.com/CURBprisons/

After a summer of nationwide protests over police violence, this year’s batch of proposals could serve as a litmus test for voters on racial justice issues.

It is our sad duty to let the world know that on Thursday, December 10, 2020, NCIP client Jack Sagin died from Covid 19. Jack served 34 years for a murder he did not commit. He had been released from prison after his conviction was reversed and charges dropped only 13 months ago, at the age of 74, in poor health and legally blind. He was a talented artist and musician whose most prized possession was his guitar. Nobody who knew Jack could ever forget his irrepressible spirit.... Jack was NCIP’s longest-represented client we began working on his case in our first year, in close contact with Jack’s sister Barb who never stopped fighting for him. Jack protested his innocence from the moment of his arrest, saying at sentencing, "Your Honor, I would like to state one thing. You made a mistake, because I didn't kill this woman," to which the court responded, "Well, that's possible." Jack deserved better than this and we, along with his family and friends, mourn his lost life.

Be sure to check out NCIP’s Fall Shelter Series Episode 1: Justice Reimagined with Exonerated Nation founder Obie Anthony and NCIP Associate Director Todd Fries. Catch them this Thursday at 12pm PST on Facebook live (facebook.com/norcalinnocence).

https://www.latimes.com//rayford-glass-convictions-overtur

Join us now for our Human Rights Day Live Event https://shindig.com/login/event/ncip-hrdevent

"Gov. Gavin Newsom, who has already declared a moratorium on executions in California, went a step further Monday with an unprecedented court filing that asserted the state’s death penalty law is applied in a racist manner against African Americans." https://urldefense.com//Newson-California-district-attorne

Our virtual live event will be starting shortly, go to https://shindig.com/login/event/NCIP-hrdevent to join!

"Prosecutors or police used or threatened to use the death penalty as a coercive tool that led to or extended the wrongful convictions of at least nineteen people who were exonerated in 2019, a Death Penalty Information Center analysis of data from the National Registry of Exonerations has revealed."

Today is #HumanRightsDay Join us for a free live virtual event on Shindig at 5-6pm PST featuring guest speaker Dr. Yusef Salaam from the Exonerated Five. We are excited to have you all there! Go to https://shindig.com/login/event/NCIP-hrdevent for tonight’s event!

https://www.mercurynews.com//federal-judge-vacates-decade/

Tomorrow is the day!! Join us for a moderated conversation with Dr. Yusef Salaam, prison reform activist and member of the Exonerated Five. This is a free event available on the platform Shindig. Go to ncip.org/hrd-event/ to learn more and where we will be posting the link to our event. This is a live event but will also be recorded. Hope to see you all there!

Congratulations to California Innocence Project for Derrick Harris' exoneration!

Newly elected District Attorney for Los Angeles County George Gascon recently implemented progressive changes that address racial disparities in the criminal justice system, combats mass incarceration, and supports the needs of victims and the community, ensuring for a more fair and just system. Read through for an overview of his changes.

"The ballot initiative, supported by police, corporations, and even big grocery chains, would use more taxpayer money to incarcerate people, rather than invest in other social services."

October is #youthjusticeawarenessmonth, today we are highlighting the case of Franky Carrillo Jr. who was arrested and wrongfully convicted as a teenager (you can learn more at ncip.org or watch The Innocence Files on Netflix). The data provided gives us a deeper look at juvenile justice in the U.S. and in California. What finding seems most interesting to you? Photo from laloyolan.com

"Advocates hope the Act will help stem prosecutorial misconduct, prevent violations of defendants’ due process rights, and avoid costly reversals and retrials."

Today is #givingtuesday your donations help us to fight for the wrongfully convicted! Pictured here is Rick Walker, Maurice Caldwell, NCIP attorney Paige Kaneb, and NCIP Director Linda Starr on the day of Maurice’s release. Your support furthers our efforts and brings together community. Thank you all! Go to ncip.org to donate.

Join NCIP for our Human Rights Day live virtual event presented by Shindig featuring special guest speaker Dr. Yusef Salaam member of the Exonerated Five and prison reform activist. Learn more on how to register or sponsor this event at ncip.org/hrd-event/

Thank you from our NCIP family for all of your support and helping us to free the wrongfully convicted so that they too can be with their families. Thank you

The Innocence Movement has lost one of our guiding lights and a dear friend as Rick Walker died unexpectedly in his sleep yesterday. Since his exoneration in 2003, Rick has been a champion for those exonerated, an advocate who tirelessly showed up whenever asked or needed, as well as an ace mechanic who could fix anything. But it was Rick’s warm, embracing hugs and huge, loving heart that will be missed the most. He was a devoted father, son, and uncle and a calm, reliable presence there for anyone being released from prison and struggling afterward. The community of those exonerated has lost a pillar and the world has lost a great man. Rest in peace Rick your mark on this world is big and beautiful.

As the year ends and the holiday season kicks in, NCIP is still fighting to free the wrongfully convicted. Thank you to our staff, students, attorney partners, and our supporters for helping us in our efforts. Your donation is greatly appreciated as we hope to ensure that our clients don’t have to spend another year in prison. Donate today at ncip.org #fightingforfreedom

NCIP is excited to announce our Human Rights Day live virtual event presented by Shindig featuring special guest speaker @dr.yusefsalaam member of the Exonerated Five and prison reform activist. Learn more on how to register or sponsor this event at ncip.org/hrd-event/

Amazing work done by NCIP attorney Melissa O’Connell for the California Litigation journal by the California Lawyers Association. #MoreYouKnowMonday Take a look at the article highlights and learn more about NCIP at ncip.org

If you missed our live talk about our commutation petition this morning, you can watch it on our Facebook at facebook.com/norcalinnocence. Thank you to our attorneys continuing their efforts to fight for the lives of Stephen Dossman, Clifton Jones, Kevin Harper, and Juan Bautista. How can you help? Sign the commutation petition and demand from @GavinNewsom to #freetheinnocent. Scroll through the slides to learn more. #Exonerate #JusticeforStephen #JusticeforKevin #JusticeforJuan #JusticeforClifton #EndWrongfulImprisonment #EndMassIncarceration #NCIPcommutation

From The Marshall Project "Anatomy of a wrongful conviction. An appeals court decision in California offers grim details about an instance of ineffective assistance of counsel in a case involving a guilty plea." https://www.courts.ca.gov/opinions/documents/A158676.PDF

Learn about NCIP's Commutation Applications and take action!

Stay tuned! Watch our Facebook live at 11:40am PST (event was moved due to technical difficulties).

*RESCHEDULED* Tomorrow at 11 AM PST, NCIP will be continuing our talks on commutation updates with NCIP attorney Kelley Fleming. Please join us for a short Instagram live to learn what you can do to take action

Check out our Instagram live tomorrow with NCIP attorney Kelley Fleming who will be giving client updates from our latest commutation petition. Tune in at @11am PST Friday, 11/6/20. See you there!

California passed prop 17! This restores voting rights upon completion of one’s prison term. Congratulations!

Today is the day! Exercise your right to vote

#WhatsUpWednesday from the help of @the_digital_abolitionist, here is useful information on how incarcerated folks can receive their stimulus checks.

While we can’t work in the office, we are still continuing the fight to free the #wrongfullyconvicted! Help us in our fight and #donate today

"Black and Latino Californians are disproportionately represented among parolees, according to a study from the Public Policy Institute of California." Vote YES on prop 17!

Yesterday was NCIP client Jack Sagin’s one-year anniversary of his #freedomday, congratulations Jack!

Happy #indigenouspeoplesday! We acknowledge the land that NCIP’s office occupies at @santaclaralaw/@santaclarauniversity which was that of the Muwekma Ohlone people. Acknowledge and celebrate Indigenous peoples everyday

Welcoming NCIP’s newest staff member Lauryn Bruton-Barbosa (SCU School of Law ‘20) whose first day is today and is entering as an Equal Justice Works Fellow! Congratulations!!

In celebration of #nationalvotereducationweek, October is also #YouthJusticeActionMonth! It’s time we confront issues regarding our youth and the carceral state. Stay informed about local measures and propositions, and alternative methods of incarceration. Our youth deserve restorative justice! #YJAM Image created by campaignforyouthjustice.org

This week is #nationalvotereducationweek and today is #ballotready! We are less than a month away from Election Day so get informed and find more resources at votereducationweek.org as well as from the links provided in the slides!

If you missed our live today on Instagram, watch here https://www.instagram.com/tv/CGDcDMtpM4w/ Get informed and help us to free the #WrongfullyConvicted

Let’s continue the fight! #justicenow

Check out our next Instagram Live this Wednesday at 12pm with NCIP volunteer Attorney Catherine Boyle, who will discuss our posthumous pardon for David Losoya. Come learn more about the #wrongfullyconvicted

Today is #worldteachersday and NCIP thanks our amazing Director/Professor Linda Starr for her determination in providing our clinical law students all the guidance she can during a pandemic. Pictured here is an outdoor, socially distanced class session. Great work!

#WrongfulConvictionDay at the capitol! Thank you to everyone who joined our #walkout4justice and raised awareness featuring our exoneree family Bismarck Dinius, Darwin Crabtree, and Jeremy Puckett!

Wrongful Conviction Day

"Maurice Caldwell, a man who was wrongfully convicted of murder and is suing a retired San Francisco Police Department commander for his alleged role in putting Caldwell behind bars for two decades, will be allowed to see his day in court."

Today is #wrongfulconvictionday! And the winner of the NCIP + Wrongful Conviction Day Art Contest goes to Fernando Bermudez who is an artist and was exonerated 11/09/12 after spending 17 years wrongfully incarcerated in New York. Thank you Fernando Bermudez for your wonderful artwork!

"California responded this week with a new law that overhauls how peremptory challenges may be used in California jury trials. It shrinks prosecutors’ ability to exclude Black people and others based on their affiliation with protected groups."

Tomorrow is Wrongful Conviction Day! Spread the word by using the hashtag #wrongfulconvictionday and watch the day long live stream presented by @innocencenetwork. Join us for our segment at 5pm PT for our #walkout4justice! Help us spread the word about wrongful convictions!

Today is a historic day! Governor Gavin Newsom signed off AB 2542 Racial Justice Act which will prohibit the use of race, ethnicity or national origin in sentencing and convictions. Big thanks to assembly member Ash Kalra for his authoring of the bill!