In January 2023, Cassandra Black Elk was exonerated after being wrongfully convicted in the death of her infant daughter, StarLight Black Elk.
After losing her child to an unexplained, sudden infant death (formerly known as “Sudden Infant Death Syndrome” or “SIDS”); a year of unjust incarceration; forced separation from her other two young children; and enduring public accusations that she harmed her own child by the state, the media, and members of her own community, the highest court in North Dakota declared her innocent.
“I think it’s time for my story to be told through my words, not everybody else’s words.”
Read moreA wrongful conviction has devastating ripple effects across time, across families, and across communities. There is no instruction manual or one-size-fits-all model to heal from a wrongful conviction, not for the freed person or their loved ones. It demands time and space for the sharpness of these ripple effects to dull and for individuals, families, and communities to metabolize the injustice.
Starr Hansen knows this more than most. As the daughter of exoneree Michael Hansen, she has bore the brunt of a wrongful conviction’s ripple effects and is an example of how an individual and a relationship, in this case that of father and daughter, can persevere and evolve in the face of loss, grief, and protracted injustice.
Read moreJodi Soucek is a paralegal at Fish & Richardson, and a part of the pro bono team working with GNIP on the case of innocent, incarcerated client, Jennifer Baldwin. She provides critical legal support to the entire team as they together pursue justice for Jennifer, who has been wrongfully incarcerated since 2019.
Read moreAdam Martin, Founder & CEO of the F5 Project and GNIP Board Member, writes about the unique challenges freed and exonerated people face upon release from prison after a wrongful conviction.
Read moreAaron Thomas and Trish Palermo from Taft Law are volunteering with GNIP’s exonerated client Marvin Haynes to navigate what comes next in his legal journey after wrongful conviction. Read more about their experience.
Read moreMy name is Terry Olson and I am a proud 2016 GNIP exoneree. I first attended the Innocence Network Conference in 2018. Now, I invite you to join me in donating to the Great North Innocence Project’s campaign to send more freed and exonerated clients and their support people to this important event. I know firsthand how transformative the experience can be.
Read moreLearn more about this month’s volunteer, Pauline Lex!
Read moreCatherine Lipinsky is a valuable member of the Great North Innocence Project volunteer community. She’s contributed to GNIP’s mission as a member of the Benefit for Innocence Committee and worked with GNIP freed client Tom Rhodes to launch his digital art gallery, Thomas D Galleries.
Read moreIn this month's spotlight, we proudly feature Sydney Dobbs, a devoted member of the Great North Innocence Project community.
Read moreSummer legal intern, Anna Mae Engel, accompanied GNIP’s managing attorney, Andrew Markquart, to Mississippi to support during the evidentiary hearing for GNIP’s client, Amy Wilkerson. Amy has been incarcerated for a crime that she did not commit for 18 years. Below, Anna Mae details what it was like as a law student to attend the hearing and collaborate with the legal team to support Amy’s case.
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