Montana Innocence Project

BECAUSE LIBERTY AND JUSTICE ARE PARAMOUNT TO DEMOCRATIC SOCIETY, IT IS THE MISSION OF THE MONTANA INNOCENCE PROJECT TO FREE THE INNOCENT AND UNJUSTLY INCARCERATED, AND ADVOCATE FOR SYSTEMS OF JUSTICE THAT ARE ACCURATE, ACCOUNTABLE, AND FAIR FOR ALL

LEGAL ACHIEVEMENTS:SECURED JOSEPH JEFFERSON-DUST'S RELEASE AND THE DISMISSAL OF HIS SUPERVISION REVOCATION, AND GARNERED PROSECUTION'S SUPPORT TO VACATE HIS CONVICTION;FILED APPELLATE OPENING BRIEF BEFORE THE MONTANA SUPREME COURT ON BEHALF OF AARON OLIPHANT;ADVOCATED FOR EXECUTIVE CLEMENCY BEFORE THE BOPP ON BEHALF OF KATIE GARDING;SUCCESSFULLY APPEALED TO THE BOPP FOR A PAROLE HEARING FOR BERNARD PEASE; AND, THROUGH EXTENSIVE COLLABORATION WITH MTIP STAFF, VOLUNTEERS, THE MEDICAL JUSTICE ALLIANCE, AND FAMILY AND FRIENDS, SECURED BERNARD'S PAROLE AFTER 39 YEARS.COMMUNICATIONS AND COMMUNITY OUTREACH:LAUNCHED PODCAST UNPACKING INJUSTICE, WHICH TELLS THE REAL STORIES BEHIND WRONGFUL AND UNJUST CONVICTIONS, PREMIERING WITH A 4-EPISODE SERIES ON FREED CLIENT DAVE WILKES STORY;FACILITATED COLLABORATION WITH LIVE STORYTELLING ORGANIZATION TELL US SOMETHING RESULTING IN CLIENT KATIE GARDING TELLING HER STORY IN FRONT OF HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE, RECEIVING A STANDING OVATION;ORGANIZED HOLIDAY CARD DRIVE, SENDING OVER 80 HOLIDAY CARDS WITH HANDWRITTEN NOTES OF SUPPORT FROM COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO CLIENTS ACROSS MT;ORGANIZED TEN COMMUNITY EVENTS, INCLUDING AN INFORMATIONAL PANEL ON SCOTUS DECISIONS AND AN INDIGENOUS JUSTICE RALLY FOR WRONGFUL CONVICTION DAY; ANDTOLD 40 EDUCATIONAL STORIES ABOUT WRONGFUL AND UNJUST CONVICTION ISSUES.STUDENT ENGAGEMENT:HOSTED A UNIVERSITY OF MONTANA SOCIAL WORK PRACTICUM STUDENT WHO HELPED WITH RECRUITMENT DOCUMENT FOR OPEN TABLE, ORGANIZE WRONGFUL CONVICTION DAY, WORKED ON CARD DRIVE, LEGAL HELP ACCESS SURVEY, DEVELOP SURVEY REGARDING SECONDARY TRAUMA IN THE WORKPLACE;HOSTED UNIVERSITY OF MONTANA SUMMER JOURNALISM INTERN WHO OVERCAME ACCESS BARRIERS TO PHOTOGRAPH CLIENTS IN PRISONS ACROSS MT;FACILITATED MARKET RESEARCH SURVEY WITH UNIVERSITY OF MONTANA BUSINESS STUDENTS TO UNDERSTAND BARRIERS TO ACCESSING INFORMATION ABOUT LEGAL ASSISTANCE AT THE MONTANA WOMENS PRISON;WORKED WITH ALBERTON HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS TO RESEARCH AND WRITE A 2023 ADVOCACY GUIDE.ADVOCACY:ENGAGED WITH THE LAW AND JUSTICE INTERIM COMMITTEE AROUND EXONEREE COMPENSATION AND CRIMINAL LEGAL DATA AND SYSTEMS TRANSPARENCY;MONITORED THE WORK OF THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE; ANDRESTRUCTURED THE MONTANA COALITION FOR PUBLIC SAFETY.SOCIAL WORK BULLET POINTS:BEGAN WORKING WITH OPEN TABLE, AN ORGANIZATION THAT FACILITATES WEEKLY SUPPORT VISITS FOR A YEAR BETWEEN CLIENTS AND A GROUP OF VOLUNTEERS WHO OFFER THEIR SOCIAL CAPITAL AND SUPPORT TO HELP CLIENTS ACHIEVE THEIR PERSONAL LIFE GOALS; ANDSTARTED FIRST TABLE WITH FREED CLIENT DAVE WILKES WHO HAS MADE MEANINGFUL HEADWAY ON GOALS ONLY THREE MONTHS INTO HIS TABLE.