PRINTER'S NO. 1759

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

HOUSE RESOLUTION

No.

318

Session of

2019

INTRODUCED BY ZABEL, HILL-EVANS, CALTAGIRONE, KINSEY,

SCHLOSSBERG, RABB, JOHNSON-HARRELL, FRANKEL, McNEILL,

HOHENSTEIN, T. DAVIS, HELM, KENYATTA, WILLIAMS, EVERETT,

Project and its efforts to free the convicted innocent.

WHEREAS, Since the Pennsylvania Innocence Project opened its

doors in 2009, it has focused on identifying and exonerating

those convicted of crimes they did not commit; and

WHEREAS, In that time, the Pennsylvania Innocence Project

office has grown from two paid staff members to nine and

expanded from a single office with Temple University's Beasley

School of Law to an additional office at Duquesne University

School of Law in Pittsburgh; and

WHEREAS, By engaging hundreds of lawyers, law students,

another minute locked away from their lives and society for

crimes they did not commit; and

WHEREAS, Pennsylvania Innocence Project staff and pro bono

partners are currently litigating more than 22 cases for

individuals who have strong claims of innocence all over this

Commonwealth; and

WHEREAS, The Pennsylvania Innocence Project also works toward

criminal justice reform by educating stakeholders on the reasons

for wrongful convictions; and

WHEREAS, According to the Pennsylvania Innocence Project,

WHEREAS, As a result of wrongful convictions, nationwide 82

sexual assaults and 35 murders were committed by true

perpetrators while the innocent individuals remained in jail;

and

WHEREAS, To prevent this, the Pennsylvania Innocence Project

works directly with law enforcement agencies to encourage

training in and adoption of best practices for eyewitness

identification and suspect interrogation recording procedures;

and

WHEREAS, The Pennsylvania Innocence Project also provides

training and experience to students in the fields of law,

journalism, criminal justice and forensic science; and

WHEREAS, The Pennsylvania Innocence Project has also

established programs in law schools throughout this

Commonwealth, including the Temple University Beasley School of

Law, Villanova University Charles Widger School of Law, Drexel

University Thomas R. Kline School of Law, University of

Pennsylvania Law School, Penn State Law School, Penn State

Dickinson Law School, University of Pittsburgh School of Law and

Duquesne University School of Law; and

WHEREAS, The Pennsylvania Innocence Project continues to

advocate for policies that provide just compensation for victims

of wrongful conviction, extend the time inmates must file a

petition after finding evidence of innocence, allow prisoners to

request DNA testing in appropriate cases and require

accreditation of forensic science laboratories; therefore be it

RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives recognize the

10th anniversary of the Pennsylvania Innocence Project and its

efforts to free the convicted innocent; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives commend the work