California Innocence Project

MISSION STATEMENT

The California Innocence Project (CIP) is dedicated to releasing wrongfully convicted inmates, providing an outstanding educational experience to law students, and promoting a fair and effective criminal justice system by advocating for change in California laws and policy.

CIP’s target demographic are indigent, incarcerated, innocent individuals who have been convicted in Southern California. CIP has secured the release of 30 individuals and we are actively litigating many more cases. Our caseload grows each year as we screen more than 1,500 new requests for assistance annually.

“Receiving the Fusenot Foundation grant is critical to the long term success of the California Innocence Project. It provides us the ability to investigate and litigate cases of factual innocence for clients who have no money to pay the expenses. We could not free our innocent clients without these resources.”

Justin Brooks, Executive Director

California Innocence Project

29th Successful Exoneration

Horace Roberts is the 29th person the California Innocence Project has freed since the Project’s inception in 1999.

California Innocence Project client Horace Roberts walks with his attorney, Michael Semanchik, moments after he was freed from prison.

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Horace Roberts

County of Conviction: Riverside

Convicted of: Second Degree Murder

Sentence: 15 Years to Life

Year of Conviction: 1999

Years Served: 19 Years

Exonerated: October 12, 2018

Cost of Wrongful Incarceration*: $1,542,857