This spring brought the kind of moments people in innocence work wait years to see.

In April, hundreds of people gathered for MIP’s annual Faces of Innocence fundraiser to mark 25 years of working to correct and prevent wrongful convictions. Together, the evening raised more than $250,000 to help move innocence cases forward, support freed individuals after release, and continue educating communities across the Midwest.

In Kansas, following a four-day evidentiary hearing, a judge recently ruled in favor of MIP client, Celester “Les” McKinney. The court found that his prior counsel failed to provide competent representation. This ruling does not mean the case is over, but it ensures, at minimum, that Les will, for the first time, receive a full and fair hearing on his claims. Both Les and the Midwest Innocence Project team are hopeful about what this recent decision means for Les and future cases.

Another major milestone came in May when Christopher Dunn’s exoneration was upheld by the Missouri Eastern District Court of Appeals. Chris was freed in 2024 after more than 34 years of wrongful imprisonment. This ruling affirmed what Chris and his legal team have maintained for decades: he is innocent.

Moments like these are only possible because people continue supporting this work even when progress takes time. Thank you for continuing to stand with freed individuals, families, and legal teams working toward accountability and freedom.