Innocence Project of South Dakota
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The Innocence Project of South Dakota (IPSD) is modeled after the Innocence Project at the Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law, created by Barry C. Scheck and Peter Neufeld. The objective of the IPSD is to assist in the exoneration and release from confinement wrongfully convicted persons in the South Dakota State Penitentiaries, convicted of crimes they did not commit and serving prison sentences or awaiting execution for those crimes. Through the use of DNA evidence and other forensic sciences, as well as independent investigation, the IPSD will provide representation to those inmates whose conviction rests on doubtful or exculpatory evidence.
While the American system of justice may be the greatest in the world, it is not perfect and mistakes are made, and some of these mistakes are not corrected on appeal. In addition, while the conviction of innocent persons may be a small fraction of the total criminal cases adjudicated by our justice system, any number of wrongfully convicted people becomes significant and substantial to those serving the time or awaiting execution, and for their families as well. This is a time they will never be able to recover. The Innocence Project of South Dakota may exist as the only a source of hope for these people who have been wrongfully convicted. The IPSD will investigate inmate claims of unjust incarceration and seek to reopen cases with persuasive and provable claims of actual innocence, with the ultimate goal of obtaining the release and freedom for the innocent through either judicial proceedings or executive clemency.
The success of the IPSD depends upon the dedication, strength, and drive of its volunteers - the Project does not employ any full-time lawyers or staff; instead, the Project relies heavily on the charitable assistance of pro bono lawyers, volunteer law professors and law students, as well as others in the community who are devoted to the cause of freeing those who have been wrongfully convicted.
Juan Melendez
Juan's Website
Volante Article
Argus Leader Article
Judge Fleischer's Order
Donations/Volunteer
Please make checks payable to Innocence Project of South Dakota. The Innocence Project of South Dakota is awaiting 501(c)(3) recognition.
Contact Information for the Innocence Project
University of South Dakota
School of Law
414 East Clark Street
Vermillion, SD 57014
Phone: (605) 677-5443
Fax: (605) 677-5417
Email: ipsd@usd.edu