New Yorkers Challenging Wrongful Convictions
From left to right: Assemblyman Clyde Vanel, Sen. Myrie Zellnor, Sharonne Salaam, and Raymond Santana introducing a criminal justice package in New York on Dec. 14, 2021 in Central Park. (Image: Elijah Craig/Innocence Project
New York’s law makes it effectively impossible for innocent people who pleaded guilty and do not have the benefit of DNA evidence to challenge their convictions in court. This prevents wrongfully convicted individuals with credible innocence claims from getting relief in court.
The Challenging Wrongful Convictions Act (A.7422-C/S.6319-B) would provide innocent New Yorkers a legal pathway to exoneration. This bill would:
- Create a pathway for wrongfully convicted individuals to get back into court to prove their innocence — even when their claims don’t involve DNA evidence.
- Provide access to post-conviction discovery.
- Establish access to counsel for those with wrongful conviction claims.
- Permit people with legitimate innocence claims to appeal denied claims.
Ask your legislators to co-sponsor this critical bill to help all wrongfully convicted New Yorkers prove their innocence.
The Innocence Project is part of a coalition that includes VOCAL-NY, New York County Defender Services, Legal Aid Society Wrongful Conviction Unit, Brooklyn Defender Services, Center for Appellate Litigation, and other legal organizations supporting The Challenging Wrongful Convictions Act.