BJA FY 10 Wrongful Conviction Review Program

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The purpose of the Wrongful Conviction Review Program is to provide high quality and efficient representation for defendants in post-conviction claims of innocence. Post-conviction innocence claims are likely to include complex challenges to the reliability or accuracy of evidence presented at trial which fall mainly into three categories: 1) eyewitness identification evidence; 2) confession evidence; and 3) forensic evidence. In some cases, post-conviction DNA testing alone can establish innocence, but the majority of cases will rely on other forms of evidence, and many will involve DNA testing together with additional sources of proof and/or expert testimony, which may be extremely costly. The goals of this initiative are to: 1) provide quality representation to those who may have been wrongfully convicted; 2) alleviate burdens placed on the criminal justice system through costly and prolonged post-conviction litigation; and 3) identify, whenever possible, the actual perpetrator of the crime.

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