Great North Innocence Project

Join the Great North Innocence Project for two conversations this fall about "FREE: My Search for Meaning" by exoneree Amanda Knox.

FREE: My Search for Meaning is Amanda Knox’s memoir about her life after wrongful imprisonment in Italy. FREE recounts how Knox survived prison, the mistakes she made and misadventures she had reintegrating into society, and culminates in the untold story of her return to Italy and the extraordinary relationship she’s built with the man who sent her to prison.

Visit https://www.greatnorthinnocenceproject.org/get-involved/wrongful-convictions-book-club/ to learn more about GNIP's Wrongful Convictions Book Club, RSVP, and access the book!

Today is the 13th Annual , a day to raise awareness of the causes and remedies of wrongful conviction and to recognize the impacts on innocent people and their families.

Wrongful convictions are not accidents – they’re symptoms of a broken criminal legal system. These are the leading causes that result in people being incarcerated for crimes they did not commit:
👤Eyewitness Misidentification
🗣️False Confession
💼Ineffective Assistance of Counsel
🧬Misapplication of Forensic Science or Junk Science
👮Official Misconduct
🧑‍⚖️Unreliable Informants

Swipe right to learn more about each one.
Awareness. Reform. Impact

🌟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.

On December 11, 2023, Marvin Haynes was exonerated after spending nearly 20 years in prison for a crime he did not commit.

“I just want people to know that I am innocent. I was innocent from the very beginning. And I’m just happy that people recognize it and understand my story. I am proud that people know my name and know my story.” -Marvin Haynes

Two years ago today, on September 26, 2024, Bobby Bintz and his brother David were released from prison after serving over 25 years for a crime they didn't commit. Bobby was greeted by GNIP Legal Director Jim Mayer, Chestnut Cambronne pro bono partners Chris Renz and Jacklyn Heckman, and his favorite snacks.

On Wednesday, GNIP honored Bobby at our 2026 Benefit for Innocence. We continue to be inspired by Bobby's indomitable spirit and are humbled by the hope, trust, and love he has for our team.

Thank you to Chestnut Cambronne PA for partnering with GNIP to represent Bobby, to the team at Ramapo College Investigative Genetic Genealogy Center for working with us to find the true perpetrator, and to Jarrett Adams for representing the Bintz brothers as they pursue compensation for their years of unjust incarceration.

Watch Bobby's story now:

Bobby Bintz's Story Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.

One year ago today, on September 24, 2025, the Minnesota Board of Pardons voted to commute Brian Pippitt's sentence. Brian was released in January 2026 after serving over 26 years in prison for a crime he did not commit.

Last night, the Great North community welcomed Brian to his first Benefit for Innocence 🌟

GNIP and Centurion - Freedom for the Innocent continue to fight alongside Brian to secure his full exoneration. We look forward to the day that we can celebrate Brian with his name fully cleared 💙

🧭🌟Thank you to our community of supporters for joining us last night at the Benefit for Innocence: True North. Your incredible generosity lights the path to freedom for innocent people still awaiting justice.

At the event, we honored the people who have carried GNIP's work forward, celebrated how far we have come, and looked ahead to our next chapter, including our plans to launch a Client Services and Support Program. We heard Bobby Bintz's inspiring story of hope and persistence and enjoyed a moving vocal performance from GNIP's first freed client, Sherman Townsend. We also honored Jennifer Kramer, Dane DeKrey, Bruce Ringstrom Jr., Gloria Contreras Edin, Kathy Santamaria El Bayoumi, and Isabella Larco with awards to acknowledge their immeasurable impact on GNIP's mission and clients.

We are especially thankful for this year's Defender Sponsor Faegre Drinker; Advocate Sponsors Chestnut Cambronne, Dorsey & Whitney, Fish & Richardson, Gustafson Gluek, Thomson Reuters, and Fredrikson; Partner Sponsors BANC, Carlson Caspers, Husch Blackwell, Robins Kaplan, and Taft; and Ally Sponsors Kramer Law, Contreras Edin Law, Ciresi Conlin, Forsgren Fisher, Maslon, Norton Rose Fulbright, Saul Ewing, Nilan Johnson Lewis, and Neufeld Scheck.

We left feeling grateful, inspired, and as dedicated as ever to our North Star: the innocent people still awaiting justice. Thank you for helping GNIP ensure that every wrongfully convicted person has the opportunity to find their way home!

Through our 2026 Pro Bono Champions Award, GNIP is proud to honor the pro bono team members at Ringstrom DeKrey and Contreras Edin Law for their extraordinary advocacy alongside GNIP in Werner Rümmer-Kunkel’s fight for freedom 💙

The Pro Bono Champions of the Year Award is presented annually to an individual or team of pro bono volunteers who have demonstrated outstanding commitment, dedicating their time, expertise, and passion to investigating and litigating innocence cases in partnership with GNIP.

Thank you and congratulations to Dane, Bruce, Gloria, Kathy, and Isabella! We are honored and proud to have your continued support and partnership in the fight for Werner's freedom.

⚖️Update in Bertie Hicks's case!

On March 27, GNIP Legal Director Jim Mayer along with a team of pro bono attorneys from Fredrikson & Byron (Minneapolis) and the Law Office Rachel Connor (Louisiana) represented Bertie Hicks at a District Court hearing. The team asked the Court to either immediately vacate Bertie's conviction or to set a hearing at which Bertie can present evidence establishing his innocence. The Court agreed, and the evidenitary hearing is occurring this week in Louisiana.

Bertie is serving a 40-year sentence for a wrongful manslaughter conviction. The Louisiana Supreme Court recently issued a ruling in favor of GNIP, holding that Bertie has a viable innocence claim meriting a full evidentiary hearing.