Innocence Project, Innocence Network Observe Wrongful Conviction Day 2017

NBA Coaches Gregg Popovich, Rick Carlisle, Stephen Kerr and Players Highlight the Ongoing Fight for Justice in New PSAs

Department of Justice Releases Short Documentary on Consequences of Wrongful Convictions

(New York, NY- October 2, 2017) – Today, the Innocence Project and the Innocence Network will mark Wrongful Conviction Day- the annual international observance dedicated to ending wrongful convictions and highlighting the plight of those convicted of crimes they did not commit. Created by the Innocence Network in 2014, Wrongful Conviction Day aims to raise awareness of the causes and remedies of wrongful conviction and to recognize the tremendous personal, social and emotional costs of wrongful conviction for innocent people and their families.

“On this International Wrongful Conviction Day, it has been inspiring to see the multitude of people and institutions — from NBA coaches to the Department of Justice — take a stand in support of the innocent people fighting for justice,” said Maddy deLone, Executive Director of the Innocence Project. Marvin Anderson, Innocence Project Board Member and former client added, “This day is an opportunity to raise awareness and to remind everyone they have a voice, and they can use it to underscore the need for better laws and practices to prevent more innocent people from having to endure the torment of a wrongful conviction.”

As part of the nationwide celebrations honoring the say, NBA San Antonio Spurs Coach Gregg Popovich, Dallas Mavericks Coach Rick Carlisle, Golden State Warriors Coach Stephen Kerr and Spurs player Danny Green will be featured in public service announcements that will be released on digital platforms for Wrongful Conviction Day.

“The system just has to be changed. Join me in taking a stand.” @spurs coach Popovich, https://t.co/T37JG480Mx #wrongfulconvictionday pic.twitter.com/HQE2oIPfBB

— Innocence Project (@innocence) October 2, 2017

Coinciding with Wrongful Conviction Day, the National Institute of Justice – the research, development and evaluation agency of the U.S. Department of Justice – is releasing a short documentary, Just Wrong: The Aftermath of Wrongful Convictions, from Crime Victims to Exonerees. The film chronicles the experiences of six individuals — three exonerees who spent decades in prison for crimes they did not commit and three crime victims or survivors whose lives were impacted by a wrongful conviction.

In addition, buildings and structures all over the world will be illuminated in yellow and white – the colors of wrongful conviction. The illumination locations include the Oklahoma City Skydance Bridge, Niagara Falls, the Mid-Hudson Bridge in New York, Vancouver City Hall in British Columbia, Toronto City Hall Towers and Calgary Stadium in Alberta, Canada to name a few. Members of the public are encouraged to photograph any illuminations and post their pictures to social media using the hashtag #WrongfulConvictionDay and tag @innocence.

Meanwhile, social media campaigns that will be launched for the day include a Twitter Takeover with the hashtag #WrongfulConvictionDay and a full lineup of Facebook Live events throughout the day.

Last year, #WrongfulConvictionDay trended 7^th nationwide, and 1,241,501 people on six continents saw #WrongfulConvictionDay content.  Additionally, 36 events were held throughout the Innocence Network by family, exonerees and board members.

Chat with @barryscheck at 2 p.m. ET on our Facebook live for #WrongfulConvictionDay https://t.co/XmvCEy2YfX pic.twitter.com/i2Nse2Iz5K

— Innocence Project (@innocence) October 2, 2017