ABOUT THE Midwest Innocence Project

We work to give freedom back to those whom the legal system has failed

We are a not-for-profit corporation dedicated to the investigation, litigation and exoneration of wrongfully convicted people in the five-state region of Arkansas, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, and Nebraska.

Rodney Lincoln
Freed: June 1, 2018

About MIP

Who We Are

Our mission is to educate about, advocate for, and obtain and support the exoneration and release of wrongfully convicted people in Arkansas, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, and Nebraska. MIP was founded in 2001 through the University of Missouri – Kansas City School of Law. We are an independent innocence organization that is a part of the national Innocence Network. Our partnerships with law firms, law schools, and student volunteers allow us to provide the very best representation at no cost to innocent people within our region.

Meet Our Team

Faces of Innocence Virtual Gala 2020

Faces of Innocence Gala

Events

At MIP, our mission is not just to free the wrongfully convicted — but also to educate the public about the causes of wrongful conviction, how to help those who are waiting for justice, and how to stop wrongful incarceration from happening in the first place.

Through our events, we educate the community about the epidemic of wrongful conviction in the U.S. and thank our supporters for continuing to help us do this critical work.

Improving Justice

Policy

Justice cannot just be fixing what’s already been mishandled, like wrongful convictions.
True justice must mean building a system in which things like wrongful convictions don’t happen in the first place.
True justice is stopping injustice before it begins.

That’s why MIP’s policy work is so important. We pinpoint hallmarks of wrongful conviction, then work with the Innocence Project Network, local organizations, and lobbyists in our 5-state area to advocate for laws that will prevent future wrongful convictions.

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Exoneration & Release

Through a rigorous process involving an initial questionnaire, a full screening, and a thorough investigation by our staff, we take on cases where a person’s innocence can be proven using the legal processes available.

Donate

Every minute an innocent person spends in prison is another minute spent separated from their loved ones, careers, and lives. And every dollar you donate goes directly towards investigation, litigation, and exoneration for innocent people in our 5-state region.

Education

Innocence work and the issues of wrongful conviction can be complicated. That’s why we regularly host virtual and in person events to clearly explain some of those issues, interview people in the innocence community, and share more about our clients’ stories.

Learn More About MIP

Board, Council and Staff

Our Partners

Financial Information