Question

goal: learn what the innocence project is, highlight a case, and explore how forensics and legal terms are used to free innocent people. part 1: introduction (5 minutes) go to: https://innocenceproject.org/ question your answer 1. what is the innocence project? (write in your own words) 2. who started it and who runs it today? 3. why is this project important for the justice system? part 2: case study (7 minutes) click on cases at the top of the site. pick one exoneree to read about. case questions your notes name of the exoneree what crime were they convicted of? what evidence led to their conviction? how was their conviction overturned? what role did forensic science (like dna) play? reflection (2 - 3 sentences): how might this case change the way you think about evidence in court?

Explanation:

1. The Innocence Project is a non - profit legal organization that uses DNA testing and other forensic evidence to re - examine and reverse wrongful convictions. It was co - founded by Barry Scheck and Peter Neufeld. Today, it is run by a team of lawyers, staff, and volunteers. It is important for the justice system as it helps correct miscarriages of justice, exposes flaws in the system, and promotes reforms to prevent future wrongful convictions.
2. For the case study part, one would need to visit the website, click on 'Cases', pick an exoneree, and gather information about their conviction, evidence, and how it was overturned. For example, if we consider a case where an individual was wrongly convicted of a crime based on eyewitness misidentification and later exonerated by DNA evidence, it shows that eyewitness testimony can be unreliable and the importance of scientific evidence like DNA in the justice system.

Answer:

1. The Innocence Project is a non - profit legal entity that uses DNA testing and forensic evidence to re - evaluate and reverse wrongful convictions.
2. It was co - founded by Barry Scheck and Peter Neufeld. It is run by a team of lawyers, staff, and volunteers.
3. It is important as it corrects miscarriages of justice, reveals system flaws, and drives reforms.

For case study (example answers, actual answers depend on website exploration):
Name of the exoneree: [Name found on website]
What crime were they convicted of: [Crime from website]
What evidence led to their conviction: [Evidence from website, e.g., eyewitness misidentification]
How was their conviction overturned: [Method from website, e.g., new DNA evidence]
What role did forensic science (like DNA) play: [Role from website, e.g., provided conclusive proof of innocence]
Reflection: This case shows that eyewitness testimony can be fallible and scientific evidence like DNA is crucial in ensuring accurate court verdicts.