The support of others helped create The Exoneration Initiative and are making it a viable force in the fight to free the wrongfully convicted.
William Hellerstein, Professor of Law at Brooklyn School of Law, advised EXI during its formation and provides guidance and support on an ongoing basis. He brings his lifelong commitment to indigent criminal defense. Professor Hellerstein devoted 21 years to the Legal Aid Society of New York, where he worked in the Criminal Appeals Bureau, including 16 years as Chief of the Bureau. During his tenure at the Legal Aid Society, Professor Hellerstein argued and prevailed on cases before the United States Supreme Court. He also founded the Legal Aid Society's Prisoners' Rights Project and Parole Revocation Defense Unit. After leaving Legal Aid, Professor Hellerstein established and directed the Second Look Program, a non-DNA Innocence Project at Brooklyn Law School which evaluated thousands of cases and won exonerations for innocent New York State prisoners. He currently serves on New York's Justice Task Force on Wrongful Convictions, established by Chief Judge Jonathan Lippman of the Court of Appeals. Professor Hellerstein is a member of EXI's Board of Directors, and has been instrumental to the success of EXI.
Susan Sarandon is an actress, philanthropist, and a social and political activist who is deeply involved in the Innocence Movement. She starred in the film The Exonerated which dramatized the stories of six people who were wrongfully convicted of murder and later exonerated. Ms. Sarandon, who will also serve on the Board of Directors, supported The Exoneration Initiative since inception.
Roberto Finzi is a partner at the law firm of Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP. Mr. Finzi and his firm have been involved in all aspects of the Initiative. Mr. Finzi’s commitment to the pro bono representation of the wrongfully convicted is beyond measure. Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison created EXI’s corporate and not-for-profit structure and has been an integral part of its development and success.
Paul Shechtman, a partner at the law firm Stillman, Friedman & Shectman LLP, offered guidance when EXI was a mere concept. His understanding of all aspects of the criminal justice system and his unconditional support helped to define the Initiative’s mission. Mr. Shechtman serves on EXI’s Board of Directors.
10 April 2012
In-depth factual investigations are essential to proving innocence without DNA evidence. Our investigations are painstaking, costly and time consuming because they frequently relate to events which occurred decades ago, before the advent of electronic records. In the intervening years, witnesses have relocated; names have changed; memories have faded; and documents have been lost or destroyed. But that isn't going to stop us.
Check out some of the cases we're investigating
09 April 2012
Valance Cole has served more than 23 years in prison for a homicide he did not commit. This injustice has continued despite a judge's finding in 2003 that he was "probably innocent," because Cole failed to meet technical legal requirements that had nothing to do with guilt or innocence. Since then, EXI has found the true killer, Denzil Smith, who EXI's investigation has shown to be the same person that was named as the killer by five eyewitnesses in 2003. Smith has made multiple, detailed confessions to the 1985 Brooklyn homicide for which Cole was convicted, and his photograph was identified by an eyewitness to the shooting. In addition, unlike Cole, Smith matches every eyewitness description of the shooter ever provided, including the description provided by the prosecution's key witness.
EXI filed a motion to exonerate Cole based on this new evidence of innocence on February 2, 2011, and the District Attorney opposed the motion almost entirely on procedural grounds. We are currently awaiting a decision from the Honorable William E. Garnett.
