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Publicly Declare your Innocence
- Steph Turner
- Sep 9
- 6 min read
Updated: Sep 18
For the wrongly convicted innocent underserved by the legal process
Summary
This service is ideal for those with a compelling case of innocence which has been overlooked by the legal process. Answer some basic questions that show you are innocent. We send the results to the DA on your behalf. We incentivize the DA to take a closer look at your case. If they refuse, we appeal to the public in a dynamic new way.
For now, this program best serves those who have already done their time and now cannot get a good job or place to live because of the wrongful conviction. It can eventually serve those still falsely incarcerated. This pioneering new program will seek early successes to build upon, in order to be more effective for us all.
Description
This service is primarily for those who are innocent and disillusioned with the innocence movement.
You have been wrongly convicted and are innocent. You had no role whatsoever in the reported crime.
You have tried getting help from an innocence project or justice clinic, but none have offered to provide legal assistance to support your case.
The service involves two basic steps.
It first creates an official document on your behalf, called a Public Declaration of Innocence (PDI).
Then it distributes it to those with the power to do something about it.
1. Demonstrate your innocence: How you had not involvement in the reported offense
Demonstrate how you are a wrongly convicted innocent person. Provide some information about your case. Answer 12 questions that point to your innocence. Send the results back to us.
2. Declare your innocence: Let need-response publicize your innocence on your behalf
Proclaim your demonstrated innocence with the backing of the new professional service of need-response.
Have us send your 'PDI' to the relevant DA, to build rapport toward expediting a way to exonerate you quicker than the standard approach.
Have us contact the relevant court(s) to inform them of this engaging alternative to adversarial legalism.
Have us send a copy of your 'PDI' to all consumer reporting agencies, to accountably improve any criminal background check of you.
We're currently testing this service with a prototype. Your feedback can inform us how to build a fully online service.
The online program eCourse
The service unfolds in four segments, each with a handful of steps.
Demonstrate your innocence
Declare your innocence
Engage
Wrap up
Each involves a guided step. Let these short videos orient you to that section's content.
1. Demonstrate your innocence
Introduction
Your EIF score
Download & complete the PDI worksheet
Click this arrow at the left for a preview of some of this section's content.
8-page worksheet (Excel spreadsheet as prototype)
The PDI worksheet consists of eight pages. Click the arrow at the left to see them all.
Case data
Page 2 gathers key information about your wrongful conviction case.
Case name
Court docket identifier
Appellate docket identifier
12 questions
Pages 4 through 7 gives you a dozen questions that are easy for you to answer.
Did you ever turn down a plea deal or an option to reduce the charges, so you can challenge all of the charges at a trial?
If turning down a plea deal or opportunity to reduce charges, then found guilty at trial, did you express any regret?
If you received a lengthy "trial penalty" sentence, did you ever regret not taking a plea deal or admitting some guilt up front?
Did you consistently maintain their innocence each time they met the parole board, despite a likely consequence of parole denial?
Were you ever released on parole, or instead were you discharged on the maximum outdate?
How many major misconducts did you receive while in prison?
How many years has it been since the wrongful conviction?
Have you ever been accused of this type of crime by anyone else?
How many years has it been since you were released from custody, and not been in trouble with the law again?
How many times have you been arrested besides this incident?
How many other convictions have you received?
Are you in a population historically profiled and frequently targeted by law enforcement?
Your answer for each item then produces a result in the first paragraph below it.
Add context
Each item affords space for context. You may want to provide nuance for how your answer is less than ideal. Once you add something for context, the second paragraph below each item adds that you're explaining your answer.
Validation
You will notice how some of these twelve items rely on self-reporting. Others can be checked by your institutional or public record. An additional question on page 8 asks your permission to allow anyone acting in good faith to check your record. Such transparency boosts your credibility. But it does not factor into the determined level of credible innocence.
Results: Credible innocence levels
The more you fit the profile of innocence, the higher the level of declarable innocence. You will see it kick out one of these four sentences.
Claimant presents an overwhelming pattern of innocence.
Claimant presents a compelling case of innocence.
Claimant presents a consideration for possible innocence.
Claimant fails to present here a case for innocence.
Instead of "Claimant", it includes your provided name.
Below that sentence are four possible outcomes. Your name appears above the one that fits your responses to those 12 items.
demonstrably innocent | more innocent than not | probably innocent | unlikely but maybe innocent |
Audience shift
Before you answer an item, the sentence is directed to you. After it is answered, the sentence shifts to be read by the recipient. The following item is directed at the DA, and any other judicial system stakeholder.
Let's bring justice to the innocent
Together, we can do better
At no fault of their own, innocent people depart prison without their full rights. Collateral consequences of wrongful convictions cost them a good job, sustainable housing, and more. Many slip into cycles of poverty. Some fall into addictions to cope. Together, we can turn that around.
Innocence offending
Each employer relying upon an errant criminal background check becomes complicit. Along with rental leaders, they become privileged "innocence offenders". Even neighbors can become innocence offenders under color of law.
Expedited exoneration
Legal tests for discerning wrongful convictions of the innocent remain disappointingly inadequate. Legalistic norms like "harmless error" and "conviction finality" needlessly prevents exonerating the innocent. This alternative can serve as a kind of triage to identify cases ripe for exoneration, which can perhaps wait, and which can be overlooked.
With or without you
This tool exists to complement your efforts to serve the underserved innocent. Or it can empower need-response to compete with your meager, or nonexistent, efforts. We invite you to join our efforts, to help create more just outcomes. But since justice delayed is justice denied, we can't wait forever. Contact us now to learn how need-response can serve you.
2. Declare your innocence
Overview
Verify addresses
Upload your finished PDI worksheet
Distributing your PDI to key recipients
3. Engage
Justice needs
Engaging the DA
Incentivizing authorities' responsiveness
Ready for the DA's response
More responsive or more reactive
4. Wrap up
Follow-up
Final answers to the 12 questions
When you complete it, you will receive a certificate that can help you publicly declare your overlooked innocence. For now, this certificate is more symbolic than official. With enough public support, that may all we need.
Available support for getting through this program
The program is designed to be done on your own at our own pace. But it offers these options in case you could use a hand. That includes getting through any emotional challenges when triggering some painful memories.
Peer support at the Unexonerated group
Free and unlimited
$14.48 for a 10-minute session
In-person support with Steph
$59.48 for a 25-minute session
Sign up for only $49.48, cheaper than hiring a lawyer
Why isn't this offered for free?
Why charge any money for this?
"Why isn't this free?" you may wonder. Why should you pay for a service to try to undo something that someone else caused? Fair enough.
Charging you a fee keeps us accountable to serving your specific interests. You have little say over innocence lawyers or court appointed lawyers who provide their services pro bono. Their accountability tends to shift toward those who fund their services, instead of remaining accountable to you. Besides...
this is far cheaper than hiring a lawyer!
By contrast, you can hold us accountable because you directly pay for the service. We think of this more as your investment in improved outcomes, not some legal expense.
Besides, as others support your cause, they receive benefits along the way. They improve their responsiveness to needs like yours. With public exoneration, we all help each other to reach more of our lives' potential. We all learn to love each other more, to honor the needs of others as our own. Is that not worth $50?
Your freedom is worth far more than that!
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