THE “INNOCENCE
PROJECT”
By: Shayne Cahalan
& Katelyn Lewis & Kori Forrest
WHAT IS THE INNOCENCE
PROJECT?
 “Criminals” seeking freedom
 Founded in 1992
 Non-Profit Organizations
 Founded at Benjamin N. Cardozo School Of Law at Yeshiva
University
 250 people have been released
 17 of 250 were at one time sentenced to death
FACTS
 2.3% and 5% of all prisoners in the jail are innocent
 Four of the first 250 DNA exonerates
 Most DNA cases involve sex crimes or violent physical
struggles
 A fraction of criminal cases involve biological evidence that can
be subjected to DNA testing
THOMAS HAYNESWORTH
 Is in jail for 27 years
 Accused of raping three people
 DNA and other evidence now show that it was committed by
“Black Ninja” rapist
 Between January 3 and February 1, 1984 five white women
were the victims of rape
 Hansworth was identified by one of the victim's
 latter the other 4 chose a picture out of a photo array
After Thomas was arrested rapes was still going on
Leon Davis, who was charged with about
Haynesworth was later convicted to 36 years
DNA DATABASE
ISSUES & CONCERNS
 The Primary concern is privacy.
 “Collected samples are stored, and many state laws do not require
the destruction of a DNA record or sample after a conviction has
been overturned. So there is a chance that a person's entire genome
may be available”
DO YOU THINK THAT ANYONE WHO IS
ARRESTED SHOULD HAVE TO HAVE HIS OR
HER DNA TEST?
They already take your fingerprints, and they don’t even ask.
Therefore, I believe if they have that right then they should be
able to get their DNA with out permission.
SAFE GUARDS
 They should put better security on all files to prevent them
from getting stolen.