2025 In Review
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When people write to us from prison, they are often clinging to hope. Each letter, whether accompanied by stacks of transcripts or simply a story and a plea, is an act of faith that the truth still matters. Justice for our clients is rarely swift; it demands time, persistence, and often the evolution of both science and the legal system. This year, the homecomings of Jeff Ambramowski, Anthony Marshall, and Tavares Hutchinson reminded us how far our movement for truth, grace, and healing has come.
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Nearly twenty years ago, Jeff reached out knowing he was innocent but lacking the scientific tools to prove it. DNA testing was in its early stages, and his case could not advance. As technology progressed, we were finally able to reopen his case, and new DNA testing on the alleged murder weapons excluded him entirely. With the support of his longtime advocate, Jeff’s wrongful conviction was dismantled, and when he walked free with his name cleared, it affirmed that persistence, science, and justice can evolve together.
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Anthony Marshall’s story shows how grace can transform even the heaviest circumstances. Wrongfully convicted in 1982, he spent more than 43 years in prison, supported by his faith and the victim’s family, who long believed in his innocence. The relationship that grew between Anthony and the victim’s daughter turned grief into healing, and when Anthony was released on parole this August, his freedom became a powerful example of reconciliation and the humanity justice must honor. Meanwhile, as Anthony took his first steps toward freedom, Tavares Hutchinson was preparing for his own. Wrongfully convicted in 1999 based on a single unreliable eyewitness identification, he spent more than two decades behind bars until new expert testimony, reinvestigation, and the witness’s recantation led to his release this November in partnership with the State Attorney’s Office, proof of what reform can make possible.
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Together, these men survived more than 92 years of wrongful incarceration, 92 years of lost milestones, quiet endurance, and unwavering belief in truth. As we look ahead, we are working to raise $150,000 to continue uncovering innocence, supporting people as they rebuild their lives, and preventing future wrongful convictions. With Florida’s vast prison population, hundreds likely thousands, may still be innocent, and many reached out long before science or the law was ready to help them. This year we expanded our reach through public education, new staff, and a reentry preparation program led by former intern Eddie Fordham, all designed to strengthen our work from investigation to reintegration. Your support fuels this progress, funding expert testing and litigation, providing transition resources, and driving policy change. Jeff’s exoneration and Anthony’s and Tavares’s releases prove that justice evolves when we refuse to give up. ​

Jeff Abramowski

Anthony Marshall with his sister

Brandon Scheck with Tavares Hutchinson
Florida’s prison population is massive, and within it are countless stories of injustice waiting to be uncovered. Even with conservative estimates, hundreds, likely thousands, of incarcerated people in our state may be innocent. Many have never heard of us. Others reached out years ago, when the science wasn’t advanced enough or the law wasn’t ready to recognize their truth. Today, our evolution as an organization allows us to meet more of these cases with the right tools, the right expertise, and the right partnerships, but we can only do so with sustained support from people like you.
This year marked a period of remarkable growth, not only in the number of lives we touched but in the depth and reach of our impact. We expanded our public education and community engagement efforts, hosting events, panels, and collaborations across the state to raise awareness about wrongful convictions and mobilize support for systemic change. We welcomed four new dedicated staff members who bring critical expertise in litigation, reentry, and advocacy, strengthening our ability to serve more clients, accelerate our casework, and broaden community awareness of our work. And with the leadership of our former intern and fierce advocate, Eddie Fordham, we launched a new support program designed to help more of our incarcerated clients prepare for life after decades behind bars. Through this initiative, we’re not only fighting for freedom but for successful reintegration, ensuring our clients have access to the tools, stability, and community they need to rebuild their lives and reclaim their futures.
As we enter a new year, we are endeavoring to raise $150,000 to power this next chapter of impact. Your gift will:
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Fund investigations, expert testing, and litigation that expose the truth.
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Provide direct transition support so freedom comes with dignity, not destitution.
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Drive education and policy work that prevent future wrongful convictions.
Jeff’s exoneration and the release of Anthony and Tavares are not the end of a story, they are proof that justice evolves when we refuse to give up. Please make a tax-deductible gift today to help us move more people from believed to free, and from free to healed.
We couldn't have achieved the things we have this year without critical advocacy, funding and support from individuals like you. Your compassion and investment in our work allows us to bring more wrongfully convicted people home from prison each year. Join us in continuing this work in 2026!
TRIUMPHS OF 2025
We Even Launched Merch!
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Another exciting milestone this year was the launch of our very first line of Innocence Project of Florida merchandise, a bold new way to spark conversations, spread awareness, and show support for the fight to free the innocent. Every shirt, hat, tote, and sweatshirt carries our mission into the world, helping more people learn about wrongful convictions and join the movement for justice. Your purchase directly supports our work and helps amplify the voices of those still waiting to be heard. Plus, they make meaningful holiday gifts that inspire hope and change. Check out our merch and follow us on social media for updates, new releases, and stories of impact, because every small act of awareness brings us one step closer to freedom for all.
Legal Director
