Innocence Project of Texas is one of the leading innocence organizations in the country having exonerated or freed 30 people since 2006. Community support is critical to ensuring that IPTX can continue our work to exonerate, reform and educate.
At IPTX, we know that discriminatory policies and practices at all stages of the criminal justice process unjustifiably disadvantage people of color and people living in poverty. We work to bring meaningful change in Texas to help achieve our vision that no one shall have their liberty wrongly taken from them.
Exonerate
The rate of wrongful convictions is estimated between 2 and 6%, meaning that at least 3,500 of Texans are incarcerated today for crimes they did not commit. IPTX investigates claims of innocence and provides those wrongfully convicted with legal counsel at no cost. Our team evaluates over 1,000 claims of innocence per year.
The path to exoneration is long. On average, it takes 14 years and $235,000 to get a wrongfully convicted person out of prison and reunited with their family. IPTX has exonerated or freed 30 innocent people from incarceration who collectively served 424 years behind bars. We continue to receive over 1,000 letters each year from Texans needing our help.
Reform
At IPTX, we know that it is not enough to free the wrongfully convicted from incarceration. We have a responsibility to work toward a system that does not allow wrongful convictions to happen in the first place. IPTX has been instrumental in passing legislation to designed to improve the criminal justice process and prevent future wrongful convictions. Our successes include to grant a new trial in cases where the underlying forensic science is flawed. and compensation for exonerees.
Our policy priorities include reforms to address "junk" science, unreliable jailhouse informant testimony, whistleblower protections for law enforcement, legal mechanisms for the wrongfully convicted to appeal based on new, non-scientific evidence of innocence, and strengthening the oversight of local and state forensic laboratories.
Educate
One of our most important goals is to educate the public about wrongful convictions. IPTX's Director of Outreach, Anna Vasquez, is an exoneree who works tirelessly to share her story and put a face on the injustices that take place in Texas. Anna and IPTX staff speak regularly to legal professionals, universities, civic and religious organizations and others to shine a light on the causes and consequences of wrongful convictions.
Our Needs
General operating support allows us to direct funds where they are most needed, particularly in case review, investigation and litigation to handle our growing caseload.