FAIRFAX COUNTY, Va. (DC News Now) — Fairfax Commonwealth’s Attorney Steve Descano announced Monday a partnership with the Mid-Atlantic Innocence Project (MAIP) to help people who believe they have been wrongfully convicted of a felony.
MAIP helps defend or exonerate people wrongfully accused or convicted of crimes in D.C., Maryland and Virginia. Over the past two decades, MAIP has secured the release or exoneration of over 40 men in the DMV who have served a combined total of nearly 900 years in prison.
The county’s first-ever Conviction Integrity Unit (CIU) encourages people to submit their cases for review, with priority given to individuals who are currently incarcerated.
Eligible individuals must have a felony conviction in Fairfax County and be willing to sign an affidavit that they are factually innocent. The initial screening will be handled by MAIP, which will coordinate with the CIU to litigate classes with substantial innocence claims.
“Wrongful convictions undermine public trust in the justice system and have devastating impacts on defendants, their families, and our community,” CA Descano said in a news release. “Establishing a Conviction Integrity Unit is a crucial part of making Fairfax County’s criminal legal system both fairer and more just.”
“We’re extremely proud to have found a partner in the Mid-Atlantic Innocence Project, an organization dedicated to supporting this mission,” he added.
MAIP has one of the highest success rates in the country for exonerating people who have been wrongfully accused, according to its website.
“The people who come to MAIP for help have nowhere else to turn. Many have been convicted of terrible crimes and are despised and ignored by society despite their innocence. Often, they have never had competent legal representation. MAIP gives hope to people who feel that they are out of options,” MAIP stated.
To request an application with MAIP, click here.
If your case is accepted, MAIP’s investigation team will work to secure a complete record of the case, including the defense, prosecution and police files. Those records will then be reviewed by a team of attorneys who will determine what – if any – remedies are available.
If there’s a path to relief, MAIP’s litigation will help support the case in court.
To contact MAIP with questions about getting help, click here.
If you are inquiring about the status of a case currently under review, email MAIP here.
