The Wrongful Conviction Unit seeks to vacate wrongful convictions of innocent people. Many of our clients are incarcerated, and almost all have spent decades in prison. Our cases involve a range of causes of wrongful convictions, including mistaken eyewitness identification, coerced confessions, misapplication of forensic science, ineffective assistance of counsel, and police and/or prosecutorial misconduct. We take DNA and non-DNA cases. In the course of representing our clients, we have also advocated for their release on parole or sought grants of clemency.

Partnerships

The WCU collaborates with private law firms on wrongful conviction and FOIL litigation. When possible, WCU works with Conviction Integrity Units at the District Attorney’s Offices to vacate the convictions of our clients.

Contact

If you are innocent and have exhausted all direct appeals of a conviction that arose in New York City, write to or e-mail the Wrongful Conviction Unit to request our questionnaire to be considered for representation.

The Wrongful Conviction Unit
c/o The Legal Aid Society
199 Water Street
New York, NY 10038

Or email: wcu@legal-aid.org