Great North Innocence Project

Exoneree and attorney Jarrett Adams joined the Great North Innocence Project's Wrongful Convictions Book Club for a conversation about his memoir "Redeeming Justice: From Defendant to Defender, My Fight for Equity on Both Sides of a Broken System".

In this conversation, we talked about the impact of wrongful convictions on innocent peoples' loved ones and communities, "low-hanging fruit" criminal legal reforms that could produce better equity and justice, and more.

Watch now: https://youtu.be/9Ca9ueSJORg

Justice doesn't happen overnight. That's why monthly gifts matter.

When Sherman Townsend left prison on a deal in order to reunite with his ailing mother, GNIP's work on his case did not end. For the next 18 years, GNIP kept fighting to clear Sherman's name, secure his full exoneration, and remove this wrongful conviction from his record. In 2025, Sherman was finally exonerated when he received an innocence-based pardon.

On average, GNIP spends over 8 years working with innocent clients before they are freed or exonerated. That’s nearly a decade of cases investigated, petitions filed, hearings litigated, and challenges shared together.

When you become an Innocence North Star, your monthly gift creates stability for GNIP and hope for innocent people like Sherman. Join today🌟https://www.greatnorthinnocenceproject.org/get-involved/ways-to-give/monthly-giving/

Introducing GNIP's Innocence North Stars, a community of monthly donors guiding us toward freedom every single month 🌟

Like the North Star, these supporters help light the way, supporting critical pro bono legal services, advocacy, and education that lead to freedom for innocent people and prevent future wrongful convictions. In celebration of our 25th anniversary, GNIP is inviting 25 innocence advocates to become Innocence North Stars with a monthly gift of $25 or more.

Join today at https://www.greatnorthinnocenceproject.org/get-involved/ways-to-give/monthly-giving/ and stand with innocent people month after month!

🌟Honor 25 years of freeing innocent people and preventing wrongful convictions with the Great North Innocence Project by reflecting on the stories of our freed clients.

In March 2020, Javon Davis left prison 22 years early after serving six years for a crime he didn’t commit. Just last month, Minnesota’s Claims Committee unanimously voted to award Javon compensation for his wrongful conviction!

"I’m ecstatic and so thankful. I am so happy they believed in me. They saved my life." -Javon about GNIP's work on his case 💙

This week, the GNIP team joined forces with Every Meal and other incredible volunteers to help fight child hunger in Minnesota! Together, we packed nearly 4,000 bags of nutritious, culturally relevant food - providing over 15,000 meals that go right into backpacks. Like freedom, food is a basic need and we're thankful to Every Meal for ensuring that need is met for kids across our state 🍎💙 We're proud to be part of a strong and caring community that supports each other in so many different ways!

One week away! 📚

Join GNIP and Jarrett Adams, author of Redeeming Justice, for a virtual book talk on Wednesday, May 27, at 6:00 p.m. As an exoneree who was convicted at 17 years old for a crime he did not commit, and an attorney and founder of the nonprofit Life After Justice, Adams is an expert on the causes and consequences of wrongful convictions, and an advocate for those who are still fighting to clear their name ⚖️

Whether you’ve read every page or just want to listen and learn, you’re welcome to join.

🔗Visit https://www.greatnorthinnocenceproject.org/get-involved/wrongful-convictions-book-club/ for more information and to register!

🌟The Great North Innocence Project could not have successfully freed 15 innocent men and women without our guiding stars, the founders and earliest investors in innocence work in the Great North region. As part of our year-long 25th anniversary celebration, we are highlighting these passionate leaders and advocates who helped shape GNIP into what it is today.

Founding Board member Ed Magarian, Partner at Dorsey & Whitney LLP, served off-and-on for almost two decades. He actively worked on GNIP cases and provided advice and guidance on others, including the case of GNIP’s first freed client, Sherman Townsend. Ed was also key in advocating for Minnesota's wrongful conviction compensation statute and pairing the organization's mission with the structure to make it happen in the our earliest days.

🔗Learn more about Ed and his incredible vision and service at the

Six years ago today, a new statute outlining requirements for eyewitness ID procedures went into effect in Minnesota. Written by former GNIP Legal Director Julie Jonas, this statute requires all law enforcement agencies in the state to follow mandated best practices consistent with those recommended by the National Academy of Sciences. 🏛️

Eyewitness misidentification is a leading factor in wrongful convictions. Nationally, 69% of exonerations have involved eyewitness misidentification. Exonerated GNIP client Marvin Haynes was wrongfully convicted at just 17 years old when investigators used an old photo of him in a lineup and were inconsistent with other best practices.

Thank you to Julie Jonas and the many experts and partners who fought for these reforms that address wrongful convictions at their root causes!

Thank you to everyone who joined GNIP's Wrongful Convictions Book Club in person and online to discuss "Redeeming Justice: From Defendant to Defender, My Fight for Equity on Both Sides of a Broken System" by Jarrett Adams 📚

The group thoughtfully raised and explored questions like, What should accountability look like for prosecutorial misconduct? Should it be possible to convict someone without any physical evidence? Does the US’s adversarial justice system actually produce less justice? Like any good book club, our conversation yielded even more questions, but we left feeling encouraged by our community's enthusiasm for addressing issues related to wrongful convictions 💙

🔗 to learn more about our Book Club, and stay tuned for info on upcoming book selections!

Did you know? In 2019, Innocence Project of Minnesota leaders and supporters saw a gap in innocence work in neighboring states. In 2020, we expanded our work to serve North Dakota and South Dakota and transformed into the Great North Innocence Project 🌟

From outreach to correctional facilities and community groups to teaching innocence classes and clinics, the GNIP team is proud to serve the states of North Dakota and South Dakota. Plus, our entire Great North community benefits from the expertise, care, and service of exceptional Board of Directors members from both states! 🤝💙