What is the process for the Pennsylvania Innocence Project to review and take on a case?
The Pennsylvania Innocence Project is set up to operate through 4 Stages. Stage 1 is a review of the first letter sent by an inmate to the Project explaining the facts of his/her case, the reason s/he feels that s/he has been wrongfully convicted, and explaining what new evidence (if any) may be available to prove innocence. If a case meets the initial criteria (that the inmate is claiming factual innocence, was convicted in Pennsylvania and is beyond the direct appeal stage), then the case moves to Stage 2 review, and the inmate is sent a detailed questionnaire to fill out. We ask that the inmate also send a copy of the appellate brief and court opinions from the direct appeal. A volunteer lawyer or law student will carefully review the materials to determine whether the Pennsylvania Innocence Project should accept the case. At Stage 2, the volunteer will often write back to the inmate to obtain additional information. When the reviewer determines that the case is, indeed, one of fact
