ABOUT THE INNOCENCE PROJECT OF FLORIDA
The Innocence Project of Florida (IPF) is an IRS-certified 501(c)(3), non-profit organization founded in January 2003 to help innocent prisoners in Florida obtain their freedom and rebuild their lives. Our mission is to:
-
Screen and investigate cases in which meritorious innocence claims are identified;
-
Secure DNA testing when biological evidence exists;
-
Advocate for the release and/or exoneration of individuals whose cases present meritorious innocence claims based on evidence of actual innocence;
-
Provide transitional and aftercare services to exonerees; and
-
Advocate for necessary criminal justice reform to avoid wrongful incarcerations in the future.
​
​
Read more about IPF's key successes in criminal justice reform here.
OUR HISTORY
The Innocence Project of Florida (IPF) was established in response to a filing deadline for post-conviction DNA motions, with Talbot "Sandy" D'Alemberte serving as the founding chair of the board of directors. Initially, IPF operated with two advocates, Jennifer Greenberg and Sheila Meehan, working from a small office located in a hallway at the Florida State University College of Law.
​
During its initial three years, IPF relied on the support of interns, volunteers, and pro bono attorneys across Florida. However, in the latter half of 2006, the organization underwent significant growth and development. They implemented systems for reviewing and accepting new cases, hired two full-time staff attorneys to tackle a substantial backlog of cases and improve the litigation process. Additionally, they recognized the importance of supporting clients after their wrongful convictions were overturned, leading to the employment of a social worker to aid in their reintegration into society.
​
Since then, IPF has continued to expand its staff. They have added an intake coordinator responsible for screening requests for assistance and obtaining crucial case materials. Additionally, a development coordinator was appointed to lead fundraising, educational, and outreach initiatives. Presently, the IPF staff consists of nine individuals and regularly hosts six to eight student interns each semester. Notably, IPF holds the distinction of being the first innocence organization in the United States to have a full-time social worker on staff.
​
IPF actively participates as a member of the Innocence Network, a coalition of organizations dedicated to providing pro bono legal and investigative services to individuals seeking to prove their innocence in wrongful conviction cases. Several members of the IPF staff have been invited to speak at the annual Innocence Network conferences, and IPF's executive director serves on the Innocence Network Advisory Board.
​
Under the leadership of attorney Seth Miller, IPF's current executive, the organization continues its unwavering commitment to their mission. Seth oversees both the legal work and operational aspects of IPF. On the legal side, the project is supported by a staff attorney, a staff investigator, an intake coordinator, and an intake specialist. The intake team, led by the coordinator and specialist, handles nearly 1,000 inquiries for legal assistance each year. The staff investigator conducts field investigations to gather crucial evidence of actual innocence. With the expertise and experience of the staff attorney, IPF advocates strongly for the wrongfully convicted. Furthermore, IPF has a dedicated Director of Transition Services, Anthony Scott LCSW, with 17 years of experience assisting clients in their reintegration process.
​
On the operations side, IPF has a Finance and HR Manager overseeing administrative functions. They also have a Development Officer responsible for fundraising and events, and a communications team that effectively shares the organization's mission with the wider community. The non-legal team brings a diverse range of experiences from working at large corporations, higher education institutions, and advocacy groups, further strengthening IPF's capabilities.
OUR TEAM
Seth Miller, Esq.
Executive Director
litigates post-conviction innocence cases, supervises the IPF’s internship program, and regularly lectures to students, lawyers, and community groups on issues related to wrongful convictions. He also teaches Post-conviction Remedies as an adjunct professor at the Florida State University College of Law. Mr. Miller was President of the Innocence Network, a consortium of more than 65 innocence organizations in the United States and abroad, from 2014-2020, and has served on its Executive Board since 2012. Mr. Miller also served as Chair of the Steering Committee for the American Bar Association Death Penalty Due Process Review Project. Before joining IPF in 2006, Mr. Miller served as a project attorney with the ABA Death Penalty Moratorium Implementation Project in Washington, D.C., and as a staff attorney with the First District Court of Appeal in Tallahassee, Florida. He graduated from Florida State University College of Law and received his undergraduate degree from Penn State University.
Emily Thourson
Finance & Human Resources Manager
joined IPF in August 2020. Prior to IPF, Emily held a variety of finance roles within both not-for-profit healthcare and the consumer products industry, including experience with financial planning, budgeting, and accounting. She graduated from New York University with a BA in Economics in 2012.
Amy K. Carr, MA
Senior Staff Investigator
returned to IPF in Sept 2021. Amy was IPF’s first Intake Coordinator from 2008 – 2012. She spent the last 9 years at Capital Collateral Regional Counsel – South as an investigator and mitigation specialist, assisting in the defense of Florida’s death row inmates. Prior to finding her passion fighting for social justice and the rights of criminal defendants, Amy served as a member of AmeriCorps in both Massachusetts and Florida. She received her Master’s degree in International Affairs with a concentration in Human Rights from Florida State University in 2009, and graduated from Penn State University in 2005 with a BA in International Politics.
Saskiya Fagan
Creative Content Specialist
joined IPF in May 2023. She is responsible for IPF's digital communications including graphic design, photography, and videography.
Anthony Scott, LCSW
Director of Transition Services
joined IPF in 2006 to direct our social services section. He has expertise working with both prisoners and ex-offenders, having provided psychotherapy at House of Hope and Broward Outreach Center. Mr. Scott is also a founding member of the national Exoneree Support Committee, networking with and training innocence project workers throughout the United States.
Brandon Scheck
Staff Attorney
joined IPF in May 2021. Brandon went to law school to become an advocate for the wrongfully convicted and to fight against systemic injustice. Prior to joining IPF as a staff attorney, he worked at three Innocence Network organizations: as a legal fellow at the New England Innocence Project, and as a legal intern at IPF and the Georgia Innocence Project. During law school, Brandon received several awards for his commitment to public service and pro bono, including an award for the student most committed to public interest law in his graduating class.
Della Rose Campbell, BA
Intake & Internship Coordinator
joined the IPF team in August 2017. She graduated from Florida State University in 2017 with a degree in Editing, Writing and Media. Prior to her graduation, she worked as the intake intern at IPF.
Jessica Bivens
Development Officer
joined IPF in May 2022. Prior to IPF, Jessica worked as a fundraiser in both higher education and politics and has experience in major and annual giving. She received her master’s degree in Political Science and undergraduate degree in Humanities with a concentration in Human Rights from Florida State University.
Carly Mayzum
Intake Specialist
joined IPF in June 2023.
Rachel Cook
Staff Investigator
joined IPF in July 2023.