PURSUING JUSTICE

<p>What if you or someone you love were arrested, convicted and incarcerated for a crime but was innocent?</p> <p>What if the lawyer you hired was incompetent and you were out of money and out of options?</p> <p>What if years and decades had gone by and you or the person you cared about was still behind bars?</p> <p>Where would you turn?</p> <p>Wrongful conviction in the United States occurs more often than you might think.</p> <p>Just last year, according to the National Registry of Exonerations, 156 people were released from prison after being proven innocent.</p> <p>Since 1989, 2,479 people were exonerated across the country. Since 1973, 156 people were taken off Death Row and walked out of prison.</p> <p>For every 10 people executed, 1 person was set free.</p> <p>Who was behind these exonerations? Innocence Projects (nearly one for every state) and some Conviction Integrity Review Units.</p> <p>Innocence Projects investigate and litigate pro bono for every client they help.</p> <p>This podcast will explore causes of wrongful conviction, speak to exonerees and their families, learn what it is like to advocate</p> <p>for innocent people, share books written by the exonerees themselves and discuss films about wrongful conviction.</p> <p>Harriet Hendel is on the Board of Directors of the Innocence Project of Florida. She has been active with the organization since 2009.</p> <p>She will be interviewing men who have been exonerated by the Innocence Project of Florida along with the Executive Director of the Project.</p> <p>Harriet has created many different classes centered around the topic of wrongful conviction which she teaches in Sarasota, FL.</p> <p>She also speaks to civic groups, churches, synagogues, retirement homes and colleges about the work of The Innocence Project of Florida.</p>