Mid-Atlantic Innocence Project

SAVE THE DATE & RSVP: August 18, 2026 from 7:00 PM - 8:00 PM

Join us for a webinar exploring Brady evidence - what it is, how it is used in court, and why it is a critical part of ensuring justice. You will hear from our Executive Director, Shawn Armbrust, and our Paul Khoury Brady Fellow, Jonathan Delman, as they discuss the importance of Brady material and walk through the case of Franklin Tolbert.

RSVP today here: https://givebutter.com/BradyWebinar
*
*
*

Wrongful Conviction Glossary📚

Exoneration is the formal act of officially clearing someone of a criminal charge.

For people who have been wrongfully convicted, exoneration means the legal system has recognized their innocence and overturned their conviction. While it cannot undo the harm caused, it is a critical step toward justice.
*
*
*

In celebration of Black Business Month, we are highlighting four businesses run by our incredible clients, Sabein Burgess, Troy Burner, Lamont McGinnis, and Eric Simmons!

After spending 19 years wrongfully incarcerated, Sabein was finally exonerated in February of 2014. Since his exoneration Sabein has opened up Rosie's Bar and Grill, where you can always find good music and a seat to watch the Raven's play!

Troy Burner, exonerated after 24 years in prison following his wrongful conviction in 1990 opened his own bar and grill in 2023. Burner's Bar and Grill is full of fun evenings featuring comedy nights, trivia, karaoke, and more!

Lamont McGinnis opened Money Moves Mobile Detailing, when he was granted parole in 2024 after 34 years in prison. We are actively working towards his full exoneration after filing a Writ of Actual Innocence in March. After taking his car to different car washes in the area and having issues with each experiences, Lamont decided to take his love for cars to the next level and open his own mobile detailing business focused on making your car look its best!

Eric Simmons spent 25 years in prison for a crime he did not commit. In the last year, he has opened his own mobile detailing business, Lyfe After Exoneration Mobile Detailing. He is committed to giving each car a clean slate through cleaning, polishing, and protecting it so it looks and feels brand new!

Help us celebrate their accomplishments and Black Business Month by stopping by or showing them support!
*
*
*

A huge THANK YOU to Kevin Cartwright, an incredible documentarian who has volunteered his time to helping us tell the stories of the wrongfully convicted. Kevin recently graduated with his Masters in Documentary Filmmaking from the University of Maryland. This year, he has been working to tell the story of Curtis Morris through impactful interviews with family and friends and will be telling his story until he comes home.

You can see the first part of the documentary here: https://ow.ly/X1yb50ZmUYs
*
*
*

Today, is ! We are so grateful to our summer interns, Beyonce, Liz, and Sydney for choosing to commit their time to our mission. We are lucky to work with so many committed young advocates, and we are excited to see everything they will accomplish in the future!

Thank you!!
*
*
*

BREAKING NEWS: An evidentiary hearing has been granted for Dante “Rick” Boyd on his Innocence Protection Act claims in the DC Superior Court.

Rick was a 23-year-old father of four with most of his life still in front of him when he was convicted in DC Superior Court in May 1998. Despite these weaknesses in the government’s case, Rick was convicted and sentenced to 40 years to life.

The evidence of his innocence is overwhelming. MAIP, Barry J. Pollack, and Venable continue to fight for his exoneration. This hearing is another big step on the road to full exoneration for Rick.
*
*
*

Fact or Fiction🔎

Fact: Exonerations can take years to achieve.

Proving innocence is rarely quick or easy. Even when new evidence emerges, overturning a conviction can require years of investigation, litigation, and advocacy.

Many wrongfully convicted individuals spend years fighting to clear their names. We stand with them and their families in that fight.
*
*
*

"If people are going to care about wrongful convictions, they must first understand that these cases are not abstractions. They are not statistics or legal theories. They are human beings. They are families. They are birthdays missed, holidays spent apart, and years that cannot be returned. They are parents who show up every day because love leaves them no other choice... As someone entrusted with telling these stories, I still wonder whether words can ever fully capture what it means to lose a decade to a wrongful conviction." - Gina Velosky, Chief Integrated Marketing Officer, on being a voice for the wrongfully convicted.

Read Gina's full reflection on our Substack today!
*
*
*