Policy

As a State Policy Advocate, Amanda lobbies for state level policy changes to prevent and correct wrongful convictions. She joins the Innocence Project after over a decade as Chief of Staff to New York State Assemblymember Dan Quart. In that role, she drafted and passed legislation to decriminalize pocket knives and face masks, as well as to prevent the automatic fingerprinting of foster youth. She also worked to initiate the first public hearings into sexual harassment of New York legislative staffers in over 25 years, and to force NYPD to comply with federal standards in reporting sexual assault statistics. Amanda is a graduate of Vassar College and also holds a Master’s degree in Public Administration from the Marxe School of Public and International Affairs at Baruch College.

Bay Scoggin believes in America’s promise of justice for all. That’s why he joined the Innocence Project in its mission to free wrongly convicted people and reform the system. As State Policy Advocate, he is responsible for working with exonerees and network organizations to make our state’s justice systems more just, equitable, and science-based.  A gregarious policy wonk, Bay is inspired to fight for justice every day. Bay previously worked at the Texas Public Interest Research Group, where he was the Director. He is a graduate of Emerson College. In his free time, Bay enjoys traveling, going on adventures around New York City, playing board games and games of skill with friends, and keeping up with the news.

Isabelle Cohn is passionate about the equitable implementation of forensic science in the criminal legal system. That’s why she joined the Innocence Project in its mission to free wrongfully convicted people and prevent further injustice. Isabelle first joined the Innocence Project in June 2021 with the Science and Research team, before transitioning into the Policy department. As the Forensic Science Policy Associate, Isabelle provides support to all federal and state initiatives to improve the scientific rigor, quality management, and error management responses of forensic science systems. She also coordinates the Innocence Project’s participation in the development of forensic science standards. Isabelle graduated from Syracuse University in 2020, where she earned her B.S. in Forensic Science and Psychology.

Laurie Roberts is a State Policy Advocate for the Innocence Project. She previously served as the Legislative Director for Texas State Representative Jessica González where she oversaw a sweeping legislative agenda focusing on criminal justice reform, including innocence reforms, indigent defense, bail reform, and human trafficking. She also previously worked for State Representatives Justin Rodriguez and Rafael Anchia. Laurie began her career at Issue One, a Washington DC-based nonprofit dedicated to reducing the impact of money in American politics. She worked in multiple capacities, rising to Senior Associate where she managed all external communications efforts and developed high-level branding campaigns for more than 100 former members of Congress. Laurie also proudly served as a White House intern for President Obama in 2011. She graduated from the University of Massachusetts Amherst with a BA in Political Science, and holds a Masters in Public Affairs from the Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Policy at the University of Texas at Austin, where she was the recipient of the JJ Pickle Public Service Scholarship. 

Margo (she/they) first came to the Innocence Project in January 2015 as a Communications Assistant and later joined the Policy Department. Margo currently holds the role of Policy Researcher and is responsible for conducting research to prepare and support the department’s state-based policy reform campaigns, tracking relevant legislation, tracking and digesting relevant criminal legal and political news from across the country, and assisting with the creation of digital policy campaigns.Before joining the Innocence Project, Margo interned for the Media Education Foundation in Northampton, MA, promoting education around the politics of representation in popular media, and for the Video Education Center in New York City, assisting with documentary-making curricula aimed to empower predominantly BIPOC high school students in learning the skills and accessing the tools to explore issues impacting themselves and their communities. Margo graduated from Hampshire College in 2014, where they studied the histories and the political and social impacts of identity-based representation in popular American media. In their free time, Margo enjoys a lifelong love affair with the diverse and endless food offerings of New York City, queer community in all of its forms, and soaking up some sunshine.

Nathaniel Erb joined the Innocence Project in 2020 and serves as a State Policy Advocate. Prior to joining, Nathaniel operated a private consulting and lobbying practice, Erb & Associates, which specialized in domestic and international laws related to human trafficking and forced labor. Therethrough, Nathaniel provided legislative representation to front-line organizations and directly impacted communities who otherwise lacked support. He worked with elected officials, the private sector, and NGOs to implement legislation and policies spanning human trafficking and forced labor, protections for migrant workers, supply chain transparency, access to education, habitat destruction, immigration reform, and financial crime intelligence gathering. Nathaniel was led to seek a position with the Innocence Project through his work addressing the wrongful incarceration of survivors of human trafficking and improving human trafficking criminal laws and policies. He co-authored and co-led the successful passage of “Trafficking Survivors Relief Act of 2017” in Washington, D.C. and the “True Freedom Act of 2020” in Maryland, which created pathways to relief for survivors of human trafficking convicted of crimes they were forced to commit. Nathaniel also commits his time advocating for youth entrepreneurship and international partnership. He is the Chair Emeritus of the Youth Working Group of the U.S. National Commission for UNESCO, a member of the WEF’s Global Shaper community, and a regular lecturer on public policy and international institutions. Nathaniel was awarded a Citation from the State Senate of New York in 2014 for his work supporting UNESCO and the Human Trafficking Award from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland in 2018 for his work on human trafficking policy. He received his B.A. in Law & Society from Hood College where he was a recipient of the Law & Society and the Virginia E. Lewis awards.

As the Policy Administrator, Olivia directly supervises innocence-related reforms and policy accomplishments, along with developing systems to ensure policy goals are met. Olivia is passionate about her commitment to racial equality and policy reform. She previously worked at one of the most prestigious law firms in New York City, where she assisted in corporate law and DEI. Olivia is a graduate of Caldwell University, where she revitalized and served as President of the Black Student Union. She also earned her MPA in Public Policy & Law from Liberty University. When Olivia isn’t working, she loves to travel and enjoys vinyasa yoga at her local studio.

Rebecca Brown joined the Innocence Project in 2005 and directs its federal and state policy agenda, which seeks to prevent & reveal wrongful convictions and assure compensation for the wrongfully convicted upon release from prison. She has also served as a Policy Analyst for the Mayor’s Office in New York City and a Senior Planner at Center for Alternative Sentencing and Employment Services (CASES), where she conducted research, evaluation and planning work around its alternative to incarceration programs. Rebecca began her career at the Civilian Complaint Review Board, where she investigated allegations of police misconduct for the City of New York. She graduated from Barnard College and holds a Masters in Urban Planning, with a concentration in economic and community development from the Robert F. Wagner School of Public Service at New York University, where she was the recipient of the Public Service Scholarship.

Sarah Chu joined the Innocence Project in September 2008. As the Senior Advisor on Forensic Science Policy, she leads policy work that focuses on improving the valid, reliable, and just applications of forensic science and police investigative technologies.

Prior to joining the Innocence Project, Sarah worked in executive search and as a middle school science teacher in the NYC public schools. She also represents her community on her local community board.

Sarah graduated from the University of California, San Diego with bachelor degrees in Biochemistry/Cell Biology, Communication, and a Masters in Biology, and holds a Masters in Epidemiology from Stanford University.

She is currently a doctoral student in the Criminal Justice program at John Jay College of Criminal Justice/CUNY Graduate Center where her research interests include the oversight and critical examinations of forensic science and police surveillance technology.

Stacey joined the Innocence Project as the State Policy Legal Fellow in January 2021. Stacey is responsible for in-depth legal research, including 50-state comparisons of key provisions in criminal justice statutes and case law. Prior to joining the Innocence Project, Stacey was a Marciano Legal Fellow with the Rape, Abuse, & Incest National Network (“RAINN”) where she did legal research and legislation drafting focused on sexual violence response, Title IX, and constitutional law. Stacey is a proud graduate of Northeastern University, in Boston, and earned her J.D. from Widener University Delaware Law School. While in Law School, Stacey served as the Mid-Atlantic Regional Chair of the National Black Law Students Association. Stacey is passionate about the Innocence Project’s mission and believes public policy is the root to manifest change. 

Tebah Browne joined the Innocence Project in September 2022. As the Forensic Science Policy Specialist, she assists the Policy Department with policy work that focuses on the reliability, validity, and regulation of forensic science techniques and technology. Prior to joining the Innocence Project, Tebah worked at the Legal Aid Society in their DNA unit as the in-house scientist and DNA analyst. Tebah graduated from John Jay College with B.S. and M.S. degrees in Forensic Science with concentrations in Molecular Biology and Toxicology. Tebah is currently pursuing a PhD. in forensic investigative sciences at Oklahoma State University, where her dissertation focuses on the implementation, regulation, and education of forensic science in developing nations.