SET THEM FREE, TOGETHER
LET'S END THIS YEAR WITH WHAT MATTERS
Freeing a wrongfully convicted person is a moment imbued with mixed emotions. For the wrongfully convicted person and their family, it represents a triumph of fortitude and perseverance, but it also reminds us of what was lost. Lost time, lost opportunity, lost potential. In 2021, this Nation reached a sobering milestone—according to the National Registry of Exonerations, the more than 2,800 individuals exonerated nationwide since 1989 had collectively lost 25,000 years in prison for crimes they did not commit.
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In the face of this, the Innocence Project of Florida has been at the forefront of helping victims of wrongful conviction to gain vindication and rejoin free society. But we have not done it alone.
A belief in working together to right injustice is a core philosophy of IPF’s existence. Thanks to collaborations with other entities committed to justice, we have had another amazing year filled with hard-fought victories for our clients. To right even one wrongful conviction requires many people working together to literally move mountains. But there is no partner as important as you, our generous supporters. When one of our lawyers is writing a critical legal pleading, you have been guiding her hand. When we are in the courtroom standing in the breach for our innocent client, you have lifted our voice. And we have walked 28 men and women out of prison after a combined of 588 years in prison for the crimes of others, you have stood there with us as we walked them out of the doors of the jail and into the arms of their loved ones.
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Contribute to our year-end campaign in the way that works best for you and help IPF reach more innocent people in prison in 2022.
Thank you for a remarkable year.
In March, in collaboration with the Exoneration Project, we freed Jimmy Ates after he spent 20 years in prison for a murder he did not commit.
In August, in collaboration with the Conviction Review Unit in the Hillsborough County State Attorney’s Office, we secured the vindication and release of Tony Hopps after 30 years wrongfully imprisoned for a robbery in which he was misidentified.
IPF client Stephanie Spurgeon, who was released in 2020 after her faulty manslaughter conviction was overturned, finally resolved her case in October and now she is truly free. Victory for Stephanie truly took a village—a team that included IPF, the Exoneration Project, the Center for Integrity in Forensic Sciences and local attorney Allison Miller.
Also in October, IPF achieved a long-fought victory with the exoneration of Dustin Duty, who spent more than 8 years in prison for an armed robbery he did not commit. IPF partnered with our friends at the Miami Law Innocence Clinic to overturn Dustin’s wrongful conviction and achieve justice in his case.
Despite delays and difficulties caused by the pandemic in the last 18 months, in all, IPF has freed seven innocent men and women, reuniting them with their loved ones.
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.
TRIUMPHS OF 2021
IN PURSUIT OF JUSTICE
“Find the good. It’s all around you. Find it, showcase it and you’ll start believing in it.”
Jesse Owens
It takes dozens of actors to put an innocent person in prison, and it takes a community to get the same person out. Ensure our services are available long into the future to fight for those who are wrongfully imprisoned and waiting to come home in our state by making an investment in our work. Your donation and advocacy directly supports the wrongfully imprisoned.
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There are many ways to support our mission - both financial and non-donation based. Everyone has something to give - find what fits you best and advance our mission to find and free innocent people in Florida's prisons.
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