Cooley Innocence Project

About this Organization:
On January 1, 2001, Michigan enacted a DNA statute (MLC 770.16) which provides a post conviction remedy for those wrongfully convicted incarcerated persons who are innocent of the charged offense and whose innocence can be established by DNA testing of the biological evidence collected at the time of the offense. Shortly after the statute went into effect, The Thomas M. Cooley Law School initiated The Cooley Innocence Project. In May 2001, it began operation as a law school clinic. Operating under the DNA Statutory criteria, the Project's dual mission is to identify, provide legal assistance to, and secure the release of persons who are wrongfully imprisoned for crimes they did not commit and to provide its students with an excellent learning experience. It is the only such project in the state.