Social Media Toolkit: New Yorkers Challenging Wrongful Convictions

New York has the third highest number of wrongful convictions in the nation. Yet New York’s current law makes it nearly impossible for innocent people who pled guilty and don’t have the benefit of DNA evidence to challenge their convictions in court. This prevents people with credible innocence claims from getting relief in court. Right now, lawmakers have the opportunity to change this by passing A.98/S.266, The Challenging Wrongful Convictions Act. This would fix the law to enable an authentic legal pathway to exoneration. 

On Wednesday, March 2, 2022, join us in a digital day of action by urging your lawmakers to support The Challenging Wrongful Convictions Act. Take action on March 2 by reposting the social media materials below.

• Hashtag: #NYdemandsjustice
• Petition link is here.
• Twitter copy: New York’s current law makes it nearly impossible for innocent people who pled guilty to get back into court without DNA evidence. Urge your lawmakers to support A.98/S.266 to enable a legal pathway to exoneration #NYdemandsjustice: https://bit.ly/36NcS8Z
• Facebook copy: New York’s current law makes it nearly impossible for innocent people who pled guilty to get back into court without DNA evidence. Urge your lawmakers to support A.98/S.266 to enable a legal pathway to exoneration: https://bit.ly/36xMT52
• Text NEWYORK to 97016 to help us fight wrongful convictions.
• Images and text graphics formatted for social media platforms are available to download for:
  • Twitter and Facebook here.
  • Instagram posts here.
  • Instagram Stories here.

Suggested Instagram copy:

New York has the third highest number of wrongful convictions in the nation — 303 exonerations. Yet the current law makes it effectively impossible for innocent people who pled guilty to challenge their wrongful convictions in court without the benefit of DNA evidence. This prevents countless people with credible innocence claims from getting relief in court. 

Right now, lawmakers have the opportunity to change this by passing A.98/S.266, The Challenging Wrongful Convictions Act. This would fix the law to enable an authentic legal pathway to exoneration. Additionally, it would provide a right to post-conviction discovery and establish a right to counsel for those with wrongful conviction claims.

Use the link in our bio to tell your lawmakers to urge the Senate Codes Chairs to schedule a hearing for A.98/S.266, The Challenging Wrongful Convictions Act.