In the past decade, Innocence Projects have sprung up at more than 25 law schools across the country. These projects allow law students, under the supervision of professors, to investigate the cases of inmates convicted of serious crimes who have steadfastly maintained their innocence. To date, Innocence Project nationwide have freed more than 130 wrongfully convicted inmates, some of whom were on death row in their respective states. Until earlier this year, Ohio remained one of the states with the largest prison populations without an Innocence Project.

In 2002, the UC College of Law, along with interested members of the community such as Cincinnati City Councilman John Cranley and noted criminal defense attorney William Gallagher, Esq., began an effort to bring an Ohio Innocence Project to the law school. After holding several private fundraising events, operations commenced in May 2003. Under the supervision of UC law professor and Faculty Director Mark Godsey, a former federal prosecutor, and Administrative Director John Cranley, nineteen law students began working full-time on Innocence Project cases this past summer. The students will continue working part-time on their cases throughout the school year, for which they will receive class credit.

Already, the law students have screened more than 250 requests for assistance from Ohio prisoners. To determine whether a case meets the specified criteria, students typically read the prisoner's trial transcript to see the strengths and weaknesses of the prosecution's case at trial. The students then perform preliminary investigations into some of the cases to determine if new evidence, such as DNA testing, could possibly exonerate the prisoner. Out of the large number of cases that have undergone preliminary investigations, six cases have been accepted for full work-up at this time. These cases involve, for example, cutting-edge DNA technologies and new digital technology that allows for the unprecedented enhancement of old video surveillance films.

The mission of the Ohio Innocence Project is two-fold. First, to identify Ohio prisoners who might be innocent and to obtain their release. Unlike the role of a traditional criminal defense attorney, however, who must advocate on behalf of her client regardless of guilt or innocence, the Ohio Innocence Project maintains an interest in a case only so long as a credible claim of innocence remains viable. Second, to provide practical legal experience for law students that cannot be matched in the classroom or in most legal jobs available to law students.

Ohio Innocence Project student Mike Cappel says of his experience thus far with the Ohio Innocence Project, "As a fellow with the Ohio Innocence Project, I have been given the opportunity of a lifetime. I can openly challenge my beliefs of innocence and guilt and work on cases of people that have maintained their actual innocence. What more can a person who hopes to enter the legal profession ask for but the opportunity to work for justice."

The Ohio Innocence Project is funded entirely through private donations.

Questions concerning the Ohio Innocence Project should be directed to Faculty Director and Assistant Professor Mark Godsey, at 513.556.0107; mark.godsey@uc.edu.

The Ohio Innocence Project is associated with the Center for Law & Justice at the University of Cincinnati College of Law.