15PBJA23GG05257WRNG

The University of Nebraska College of Law (UNL) seeks to establish a statewide Innocence Clinic at UNL to review claims of innocence from incarcerated individuals in Nebraska. The primary goals of the Innocence Clinic are to raise awareness of the epidemic of wrongful convictions in Nebraska and exonerate those who have been wrongfully convicted.

This review of cases, which will be conducted with College of Law students, will help to establish the primary causes of wrongful convictions in Nebraska and identify the most effective methodologies to prevent wrongful convictions in the state. Furthermore, the Innocence Clinic will contribute to training the next generation of Nebraska lawyers who will learn about the causes of wrongful convictions and experience case identification and litigation of actual innocence claims.

This training promises to help reduce the risk of future wrongful convictions in Nebraska and elsewhere.

As Nebraska's land-grant university with a tri-part mission of research, teaching, and extension, UNL is committed to the people of Nebraska, and UNL's College of Law's mission to advance justice, solve problems, and serve with integrity make it an ideal setting for this project. As one of only two law schools in Nebraska, UNL is educating many of the state's future prosecutors, criminal defense attorneys, and judges.

With the support this grant will offer in establishing an Innocence Clinic, UNL will screen cases from an existing waitlist of 41 incarcerated individuals, investigate and litigate wrongful convictions, train the legal community in Nebraska to identify those at risk of wrongful convictions, and collect data that will inform the need for policy reform within the state.

Board Of Regents Of The University Of Nebraska

BJA'S UPHOLDING THE RULE OF LAW AND PREVENTING WRONGFUL CONVICTIONS PROGRAM PROVIDES COMPETITIVE FUNDING TO CREATE MULTIDISCIPLINARY TEAMS THAT ASSESS AND ADDRESS AREAS OF RISK FOR WRONGFUL CONVICTION AND REVIEW AND ASSESS POST-CONVICTION CLAIMS OF INNOCENCE. IT SUPPORTS STATE AND LOCAL POLICY MAKERS AND PRACTITIONERS, INCLUDING WRONGFUL CONVICTION REVIEW (WCR) ENTITIES THAT REPRESENT INDIVIDUALS WITH POST-CONVICTION CLAIMS OF INNOCENCE, TO REVIEW POTENTIALLY LEGITIMATE CASES AND ENACT MEASURES TO PREVENT FUTURE ERRORS AND ENSURE JUSTICE. THE PROGRAM ALSO PROMOTES PARTNERSHIPS BETWEEN WCR ENTITIES AND CONVICTION INTEGRITY UNITS, WHERE APPROPRIATE, TO SUPPORT COMPREHENSIVE APPROACHES THAT BOTH REVIEW WRONGFUL CONVICTION CLAIMS AND REDUCE THE RISK FOR FUTURE ERROR. WHERE POSSIBLE, THE PROGRAM SEEKS TO IDENTIFY ACTUAL PERPETRATORS OF CRIMES AND BRING JUSTICE TO VICTIMS, THEREBY ENHANCING PUBLIC SAFETY. MORE INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE AT: HTTPS://BJA.OJP.GOV/PROGRAM/URLPWC/OVERVIEW.

16.746 - Capital Case Litigation Initiative

Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) [DOJ - OJP]

Lincoln, Nebraska 68503-0861 United States

Single Zip Code

BJA FY 23 Upholding the Rule of Law and Preventing Wrongful Convictions Program (O-BJA-2023-171677)

Amendment Since initial award the End Date has been extended from 09/30/25 to 09/30/26.