Yes. We are based in Austin, TX, but we will consider cases throughout the United States.
Evidence subject to DNA testing is available in only 5-10% of criminal cases. We welcome those cases, but we also accept cases in which full reinvestigations are necessary. Unlike some other innocence groups, we will consider cases without any DNA component.
Yes. Some of our leadership played key roles in winning the freedom of the West Memphis 3, Tim Howard, and Daniel Villegas. We look forward to using those experiences to win the freedom of many more wrongfully convicted people.
Once we decide to officially take a case, we fund the reinvestigation and secure representation for our clients.
Please click here to see our criteria for accepting cases and how to contact us if those criteria apply to you. In general, we will consider cases in which the person who is incarcerated is completely innocent and has no involvement in the crime, the case is not a self defense case, and the person is facing life in prison (20+ years) or the death penalty.
If these criteria fit, you can send us the details of your case here.
No. Should we decide to take on a case, it is done at no cost to our clients.
Public and media relations can mean a number of things, but for our purposes it means raising awareness about cases of wrongful conviction to the media, both traditional and new, and to the public. Legal cases are often talked about in very technical terms. We turn legal jargon into plain language in order to effectively educate the community about the injustice that has occurred and compel community involvement. There are countless methods of carrying this out, and we develop the most effective plan for each case.
No, we do not. We strongly believe in the value it provides for our clients because we have seen it work in both the West Memphis 3 and Daniel Villegas cases. However, we also recognize that every case may not benefit from these methods. That decision is made by the entire defense team and is never undertaken over the objections of our clients or their attorneys.
PJ is a non-profit organization funded through private contributions. It takes a tremendous amount of money to investigate these kinds of cases and we rely on the generosity of the private sector to keep us going. You may donate here.
Yes! We need volunteers for everything from replying to inmates, to case development, to public relations and attorneys looking to donate their time to a case. Our needs vary at any given time, but you can fill out the form linked here to be added to our volunteer database.
There are outstanding innocence organizations throughout the country. Click here to see a directory of some of them.
Please click here to see our criteria for accepting cases and how to contact us if those criteria apply to you. In general, we will consider cases in which the person who is incarcerated is completely innocent and has no involvement in the crime, the case is not a self defense case, and the person is facing life in prison (20+ years) or the death penalty.
If these criteria fit, you can send us the details of your case here.
No. Should we decide to take on a case, it is done at no cost to our clients.
First, the inmate him/herself must initiate contact by writing us using the criteria lined out here. Please do not send any other documents. We will then write back (which may take up to 8 weeks) letting you know where we go from there. We will either let you know that we cannot look into your case more, that we have interest in the future but don’t currently have the resources, or that we can begin an initial investigation. We may reinvestigate a case up to a year or more before we decide whether or not to officially represent someone.
There are outstanding innocence organizations throughout the country. Click here to see a directory of some of them.
Yes. We are based in Austin, TX, but we will consider cases throughout the United States.
Please click here to see our criteria for accepting cases and how to contact us if those criteria apply to you. In general, we will consider cases in which the person who is incarcerated is completely innocent and has no involvement in the crime, the case is not a self defense case, and the person is facing life in prison (20+ years) or the death penalty.
If these criteria fit, you can send us the details of your case here.
First, the inmate him/herself must initiate contact by writing us using the criteria lined out here. Please do not send any other documents. We will then write back (which may take up to 8 weeks) letting you know where we go from there. We will either let you know that we cannot look into your case more, that we have interest in the future but don’t currently have the resources, or that we can begin an initial investigation. We may reinvestigate a case up to a year or more before we decide whether or not to officially represent someone.
Yes. We are based in Austin, TX, but we will consider cases throughout the United States.