An Analysis of Innocence Network Organizations

Abstract

UB Rise 2025 College of Science and SocietyWrongful convictions remain a critical issue within the United States criminal justice system. The Innocence Network is a collective of innocence organizations dedicated to addressing wrongful convictions, currently comprising 60 member organizations. Despite the growth of these organizations, limited research has systematically examined their characteristics and the work they perform. To gain a better understanding of these organizations, including the types of work they engage in and their eligibility criteria for case acceptance, this study conducted a content analysis of the official websites of 30 Innocence Network member organizations. The findings reveal significant variation in organizations’ caseloads, number of successful exonerations, services offered, and eligibility criteria. These results have important implications for exonerees, advocacy organizations, researchers, and policymakers