Wrongful Conviction Help in District of Columbia
Find legal aid organizations, innocence projects, and advocacy groups dedicated to helping those impacted by wrongful convictions in District of Columbia.
D.C. Office of Victim Services and Justice Grants
ovsjg.dc.gov/service/compensation-unjust-conviction-and-imprisonmentThe official government portal for Washington D.C.'s Unjust Conviction and Imprisonment Compensation program. This resource provides clear guidelines, application timelines, and direct petition instructions for exonerees seeking financial compensation, healthcare, and immediate reentry assistance from the District after receiving a certificate of innocence.
The Exoneration Project
www.exonerationproject.orgA prominent national innocence organization and legal clinic that actively reviews and litigates wrongful conviction claims across the United States, including cases within the District of Columbia. They specialize in free post-conviction legal representation for wrongfully convicted individuals where forensic flaws, misconduct, or new evidence can prove factual innocence.
Healing Justice
ovc.ojp.gov/taxonomy/term/wrongful-convictionsPartnering closely with local innocence organizations and restorative justice advocates in the D.C. metro area, Healing Justice focuses on the profound aftermath of wrongful convictions. They provide specialized support, peer programs, and mental health resources tailored to exonerees, their families, and original crime victims impacted by systemic justice failures.
University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School – Wrongful Conviction Project
www.law.upenn.edu/live/profiles/786-wrongful-conviction-projectThis specialized legal clinic partners directly with Georgetown University’s "Making an Exoneree" program to investigate potential wrongful convictions affecting D.C. area prisoners. Law volunteers and experts systematically review trial transcripts, evaluate new evidence, and provide legal recommendations for incarcerated individuals who have completely exhausted their standard appellate rights.
Mid-Atlantic Innocense Project
exonerate.org/Provides legal services to clients in Washington DC, focusing on wrongful convictions and advocacy for the wrongly accused.
ACLU of the District of Columbia
www.acludc.orgAdvocates for civil liberties in Washington DC, including wrongful conviction cases and criminal justice reform efforts.
Washington Post - Wrongful Convictions in DC
www.washingtonpost.com/search/?query=wrongful+convictionA detailed article from The Washington Post, covering wrongful conviction cases and the ongoing challenges in Washington DC's justice system.
District of Columbia Innocence Project
innocenceproject.org/states/district-of-columbia/We've helped free more than 250 innocent people from prison. Support our work to strengthen and advance the innocence movement.
Georgetown University - Making an Exoneree
prisonsandjustice.georgetown.edu/programs/makinganexoneree/Georgetown University undergraduate students reinvestigate likely wrongful conviction cases, produce short documentaries that suggest innocence, and create social media campaigns calling for exonerations.
NIJ Wrongful Convictions
nij.ojp.gov/topics/justice-system-reform/wrongful-convictionsThe strength of our criminal justice system depends on its accuracy — its ability to convict the guilty and to clear the innocent.
National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (NACDL)
www.nacdl.orgProvides resources for defense attorneys and supports efforts to overturn wrongful convictions, including in Washington DC.
Public Defender Service for the District of Columbia
wearepda.org/Offers legal defense and services for individuals facing wrongful convictions in Washington, D.C.
The Sentencing Project
sentencingproject.orgAdvocates for sentencing reform and works to address wrongful convictions impacting Washington, D.C. residents.
Equal Justice Initiative (EJI)
www.eji.orgNational organization that addresses wrongful convictions and criminal justice reform, advocating for justice in Washington DC.
Get Help in District of Columbia
Fill out the form below and a legal resource in District of Columbia may be able to assist with your situation — at no cost to you.