Innocence Project of Texas

A nonprofit organization

100% complete

$20,000 Goal

Innocence Project of Texas is one of the leading innocence organizations in the country having exonerated or freed 30 people since 2006. Community support is critical to ensuring that IPTX can continue our work to exonerate, reform and educate.

At IPTX, we know that discriminatory policies and practices at all stages of the criminal justice process unjustifiably disadvantage people of color and people living in poverty. We work to bring meaningful change in Texas to help achieve our vision that no one shall have their liberty wrongly taken from them.

Exonerate
The rate of wrongful convictions is estimated between 2 and 6%, meaning that at least 3,500 of Texans are incarcerated today for crimes they did not commit. IPTX investigates claims of innocence and provides those wrongfully convicted with legal counsel at no cost. Our team evaluates over 1,000 claims of innocence per year.

The path to exoneration is long. On average, it takes 14 years and $235,000 to get a wrongfully convicted person out of prison and reunited with their family. IPTX has exonerated or freed 30 innocent people from incarceration who collectively served 424 years behind bars. We continue to receive over 1,000 letters each year from Texans needing our help.

Reform
At IPTX, we know that it is not enough to free the wrongfully convicted from incarceration. We have a responsibility to work toward a system that does not allow wrongful convictions to happen in the first place. IPTX has been instrumental in passing legislation to designed to improve the criminal justice process and prevent future wrongful convictions. Our successes include to grant a new trial in cases where the underlying forensic science is flawed. and compensation for exonerees.

Our policy priorities include reforms to address "junk" science, unreliable jailhouse informant testimony, whistleblower protections for law enforcement, legal mechanisms for the wrongfully convicted to appeal based on new, non-scientific evidence of innocence, and strengthening the oversight of local and state forensic laboratories.

Educate
One of our most important goals is to educate the public about wrongful convictions. IPTX's Director of Outreach, Anna Vasquez, is an exoneree who works tirelessly to share her story and put a face on the injustices that take place in Texas. Anna and IPTX staff speak regularly to legal professionals, universities, civic and religious organizations and others to shine a light on the causes and consequences of wrongful convictions.

Our Needs

General operating support allows us to direct funds where they are most needed, particularly in case review, investigation and litigation to handle our growing caseload.

Mission

Mission Statement

· Restore liberty that was unjustly taken

· Reconnect families torn apart by injustice

· Defend freedom in our democracy

· Promote accuracy and integrity in our criminal justice process

Equity Statement

IPTX acknowledges the historical and pervasive systems of racism, privilege, inequity, colonialism, sexism, and oppression of minority groups present both in the United States and throughout the world. These historical and systemic forms of injustice represent the repeated failures of our institutions and systems- including institutions like IPTX -to uphold values of equity and justice, particularly for Black and African-American people, for Indigenous people and communities of color more broadly, and for the LGBTQ+ community.

Diversity, equity, and inclusion are essential to our work redressing the causes of and advocating for the eradication of wrongful convictions. Diverse, equitable, and inclusive environments make us better colleagues and better advocates, as we take opportunities to learn from each other and grow. To promote justice and equity for all, IPTX commits to advocating for, enacting, and embracing diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Organization Data

Summary

Organization name

Innocence Project of Texas

Tax id (EIN)

20-5992659

Guidestar

Causes

Human Rights, Civil Rights & Advocacy, Justice-involved adults or youth

Operating Budget

$500,000 - $999,999

Counties Served

Grayson, Wise, Tarrant, Somervell, Rockwall, Parker, Palo Pinto, Navarro, Montague, Kaufman, Johnson, Hunt, Hood, Fannin, Erath, Ellis, Denton, Dallas, Cooke, Collin

BIPOC Serving

Other, Native American, Hispanic or Latinx, Asian/Pacific Islander, Black or African American

BIPOC Leadership

Neither/None

Equity Statement

Equity Statement

Address

300 Burnett Street, Suite 160
Fort Worth, TX 76102

Phone

817-930-2616

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