Students in the Actual Innocence Clinic screen and investigate claims by inmates that they are actually innocent of the offenses for which they are incarcerated. While investigating cases, students typically interview witnesses, research cases, review trial transcripts, and visit inmates in prison. The weekly clinic class addresses topics relevant to actual innocence law and procedure.
The Actual Innocence Clinic is a project of the Budd Innocence Project.
The Actual Innocence Clinic taught me much about the legal and human challenges which attend an actual innocence claim. The experience was both humbling and empowering—I came to appreciate that a small role in forward progress is a legitimate role all the same. I’m grateful for having obtained a deeper understanding of the actual innocence process and the criminal justice system as a whole.
Vincent Christianson, 2024