New film, Conviction, tells the true story of a wrongful conviction and the Innocence Project.

[Kerrytravelers]

http://www.innocenceproject.org/Content/New_Trailer_Conviction.php


The Innocence Project is, to me, one of the greatest organizations in the country. There is a new film coming out that tells the true story of a man convicted on murder and burglary charges that was ultimately exonerated after eighteen years behind bars.

The film stars Hillary Swank, Sam Rockwell, Minnie Driver, Juliette Lewis, Melissa Leo and Peter Gallagher and is directed by Tony Goldwyn (who was the "bad guy" in Ghost.)

The film opens on October 15th.

Just thought I would let folks know. I'm not involved in the film in any way, but this is something that would appeal to me and I haven't heard of it until I went to the Innocence Project website. I live right in the heart of Los Angeles and usually hear about movies months before they open.

[Bozita]

1. Wow! The unreccers are visiting THIS thread?

[Liberal_in_LA]

4. a rec from me to offset an unrec

[etherealtruth]

7. It makes you wonder

Are people carrying out little personal vendettas .... or do they have no problem with the innocent being behind bars ... or is it a Hillary Swank hater thing ?

[ChoppinBroccoli]

2. "Innocence Project" Does Good Work

As most of you already know, I'm a criminal defense attorney who does a lot of court-appointed work defending the indigent. About a year ago, I saw a presentation given by the head of the Innocence Project chapter here in Ohio (based in Cincinnati). It's really quite impressive the work they've been able to accomplish against monstrous odds.

A little background on the Innocence Project is that it's a non-profit organization started by Barry Scheck (of O.J. "Dream Team" fame) to help the wrongly-convicted secure their freedom. It has grown to the point that there are now Innocence Project chapters in nearly every State in the nation. They have only a handful of attorneys. Most of the work is done by interns and/or law students who are generally volunteers (i.e. they don't get paid).

Here in Ohio, the Innocence Project, to much fanfare, actually worked closely with the then-Attorney General (Jim Petro, a Republican) to secure the freedom of a man convicted of some very horrible charges who had spent over 20 years in prison. The Innocence Project, with the help of the Attorney General, used new technology (in this case, DNA evidence, a technology that did not exist at the time of this conviction) to prove that the person convicted of the crime could not possibly have committed the crime. And what was particularly shocking about this story was the actions of the Prosecutor's Office who tried to keep this man in prison even after they had proof of his innocence. They did some incredibly shady stuff. It was a very eye-opening presentation.

I don't know if this particular film is about this person's story or someone else's, but I would be interested in seeing it because I'm a big believer in what the Innocence Project does.

[Heidi]

3. Thank you for the work you do.

:thumbsup:

[Kerrytravelers]

5. Thanks for the service you provide. We need folks like you!

The film is about the Kenny Waters case in Massachusetts.

http://www.innocenceproject.org/Content/285.php

[CaliforniaPeggy]

6. The Innocence Project...

I applaud their work!

I used to know a man who had a friend in Texas, who had been wrongly convicted of what I don't recall now...

The Innocence Project took on his case, and they got him out. My then friend sent me some pictures of his friend getting out, and seeing his parents for the first time in years.

It was eye-opening, to say the least.

It's a shame we need such an organization, but thank goodness we have it!

Recommended.

:hi: