No innocent person should ever spend a day in prison, and yet innocent people are wrongfully convicted and incarcerated, both in the United States and in countries all around the world, everyday. Some innocent people spend decades in prison, fighting for freedom; some are subjected to cruel and unusual punishment; and some are even sentenced to death.

The 70+ organizations that make up the Innocence Network work to exonerate the innocent; support freed people once they are released; and advocate for policy change to prevent wrongful conviction in the first place—and they need your support. Find and connect with your local Network organization to donate, volunteer, and stay informed.

Since 1989, over 3,200 wrongful convictions have been revealed across the nation with individuals collectively losing 27,200 years serving time for crimes they did not commit. We cannot know exactly how many innocent people remain in prison today, but experts estimate that 2% to 5% of the nearly 2 million people in prison in the US were wrongfully convicted, meaning that anywhere from 40,000 to 100,000 people are wrongfully incarcerated at this moment. 

In commemoration of the Ninth Annual International Wrongful Conviction Day, the Innocence Network is hosting a full-day of free programming featuring experts, advocates, and directly impacted people on Monday, October 3rd from 9 am to 9 pm Eastern Time. Please register, tune in, and join us.