The Illinois Innocence Project will receive federal help to conduct more DNA testing. John Hanlon is the executive director for the project based at the University of Illinois Springfield. He says the $750,000 announced today will especially help in cases where an individual pled guilty.
“At first that may sound counter-intuitive, but 95% of all criminal convictions in this country are by guilty plea. Not everyone who pleads guilty is guilty, by a long shot.”
A focus will also be placed on helping Latino inmates. Hanlon says many of them wind up behind bars due to barriers with language and citizenship. The Illinois Innocence Project receives requests for assistance that average about one per day. Its work has helped exonerate 8 people, including 2 this past year.