Funk Family Upstander Speaker Series: The Innocence Project

In the United States justice system, “innocent until proven guilty” is the guiding rule – but what happens when the system fails? Over the last 30 years, 375 people have been exonerated by DNA testing, including 21 who were on death row, after spending an average of 14 years in prison for crimes they did not commit. The Innocence Project works to restore freedom for the innocent, transform the systems responsible for unjust incarceration, and cultivate a coalition of organizations dedicated to combating wrongful convictions. Innocence Project co-founder Barry Scheck, executive director Christina Swarns, and exoneree Christopher Ochoa discuss the organization’s founding, its groundbreaking use of DNA technology, their ongoing efforts to reform policies that lead to wrongful convictions, and the impact of their work on individuals who have been exonerated.

The Funk Family Upstander Speaker Series showcases individuals and organizations who stand up for human rights on a local, national, or global level.
Named in loving memory of Blanch & Max Goldberg | Fannie & Isaac Funk.

*A Community Partner event