Pennsylvania Innocence Project

Happy

Our team is grateful for the many hats worn by our Paralegal, Yahya Moore. His passion for the legal field, experience as an impacted person, and infectious energy is one that we’re thankful to have in our office each day.

When reflecting on his role as our Paralegal, everything lead back to trust. As someone impacted by wrongful convictions, Yahya takes pride in being a representation for the voices who can't speak for themselves. To him, “that trust is more than anything”.

For years the Project’s internship program has been a fundamental aspect of our work.

Our students take part in intense case evaluations, witness legal hearings, learn from those directly impacted by wrongful convictions, and gain a clearer perspective on the work it takes to execute our mission every day.

This , we’d like to thank our Summer 2026 cohort of interns for all their hard work. We appreciate the opportunity to be part of their educational journeys and invite you all to hear more about their key takeaways from the summer.

"What is society’s moral obligation to people subjected to extreme heat with no ability to mitigate its conditions on their own"

No Escape From the Heat: Why Air Conditioning Is a Human Rights Issue in Prison As summers grow hotter, incarceration becomes increasingly dangerous for people living and working behind bars.

"In Philadelphia County — where police and prosecutorial misconduct are historically known to have resulted in the convictions of innocent men and women — both the Supreme Court and the Attorney General appear to support a world in which looking under the hood is a bad thing and needs to be curtailed".

Specifically, in the LaVar Brown case, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court — with urging from the Pennsylvania Attorney General's Office — recently issued a ruling directed solely at the Philadelphia District Attorney's Office that effectively gives the AG veto authority in any post-conviction case where the Philly DAO has determined that an innocent person had been convicted and sentenced to prison for a crime they did not commit. No other district attorney in the Commonwealth is subject to this type of oversight.

In an op-ed written by our Executive Director, Zane Memeger, a much appreciated spotlight is put on the message being sent if the Philadelphia DAO is prohibited from properly examining claims of innocence and granting relief for the wrongly convicted. Read Zane's message where he evaluates this new opinion from his perspective as a former U.S. attorney.

https://www.inquirer.com/opinion/commentary/pennsylvania-supreme-court-krasner-exoneration-veto-power-dave-sunday-20260715.html

Help us wish Lester Eiland and Edward Mitchell a very happy freedom anniversary! Today marks ONE YEAR since they were released after spending 25 years incarcerated for a crime they did not commit.

Lester and Ed are pictured here in Chicago during the 2026 Innocence Network Conference.

Happening tomorrow!

Join John Lentini in collaboration with The Quattrone Center for a virtual discussion on his latest book, Twice Burned: A Fire Scientist’s Adventures in Overturning and Preventing Wrongful Arson Convictions. We are excited to support this exciting evening and engage in a conversation about the evolution of fire investigations!

Tomorrow, Wednesday, June 24th at 6PM!

Register today!

Book Talk with John Lentini

Our 2025 annual report is here!

Last year was filled with both challenges and achievements at the Project. We are so grateful to this community - our team, leaders, and supporters stuck together to persevere and entered 2026 on a positive note. Click here to view the full report.
https://www.painnocence.org/s/PAIP_2025_AR_WEB-448c.pdf

We're honored to recognize Maddy deLone, Jules Epstein, and Thomas W. Hazlett as our 17th Anniversary Award recipients. Their dedication and leadership have advanced our mission and left lifelong impacts. Visit our YouTube channel to watch their spotlight videos and learn more about their inspiring work. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2CD9czJCVbc&list=PLnDc1EYOpgJ78iU6vdHi2SVOMh9Muzk1l

Catch up on the work being done at the PA Innocence Project by reading the spring edition of The Philadelphia Lawyer. Our Executive Director, Zane Memeger sat down with Shelli Fedullo to share more on the realities of wrongful convictions, and the work our team does to unlock the truth and free the innocent.

Zane’s interview begins on page 9 of the magazine.

https://philadelphiabar.org/?pg=ThePhiladelphiaLawyer&pubAction=viewIssue&pubIssueID=67820