Despite crime levels hitting historic lows, 39 states across the country increased their prison populations in 2023 — a stark reversal from 13 years of slow decarceration. @sentencingproject.bsky.social provides analysis into this new trend and recommendations for decarceration: tinyurl.com/2vt885kn

Since 2015, we've conducted Sentinel Event Reviews to find solutions to some of the most unwanted outcomes in the criminal legal system: wrongful convictions, police use of force, forensic errors, & more. But what exactly are they? Our newest edition of Defining Justice has all the answers you need.

We're intrigued to learn more about the potential for rapid video response in policing. Tune in online with Justice Clearinghouse for discussion of a randomized control trial of rapid video response, featuring: Dr. Renee J. Mitchell, Dr. Sherah Basham, and Stacey Rothwell.

Jon-Adrian "JJ" Velazquez spent 27 years wrongfully incarcerated on a life sentence due to eyewitness misidentification. In a recent episode of Legal Talk Network’s “For The Innocent” podcast, JJ discusses his journey to freedom, leadership, and activism. Listen now: https://tinyurl.com/2m2dnrpx

Jimmie "Chris" Duncan walked free last week after 27 years on Louisiana's death row for a murder conviction based on unreliable bitemark evidence. innocenceproject.org/news/jimmie-...

Former Quattrone Center Fellow @mathuclair.bsky.social shares how the fellowship supported the fieldwork for his book, expanded his network, and shaped his career. If you’re doing justice-focused research, he says: apply! Deadline: December 31 Learn more + apply: www.law.upenn.edu/institutes/q...

A new report from @aclu.org highlights how wrongful death penalty convictions disproportionately affect people of color due to factors such as systemic racism, prosecutorial misconduct, and more. Read the full report: www.aclu.org/publications...

More coverage of the Sentinel Event Review report we released last week seeking to understand how Eric Anderson was wrongfully convicted in Detroit and what reforms can prevent future injustice. Get the full story: https://tinyurl.com/4uydyz43 Source: CBS News Detroit

A new report from @colorado.edu's Visual Evidence Lab highlights growing issues regarding video and its usage in court. With the rise of AI and unclear guidelines on how to present, store, and use video as evidence, 20 experts came together to provide recommendations on how to remedy these concerns:

In a 6-1 decision, the New Jersey Supreme Court banned the use of shaken baby syndrome as a reason for unexplained head trauma, becoming the first state in the nation to do so. The majority decision stated that the biomechanical community does not generally accept the syndrome, justifying their ban.

In our most recent sentinel event review, a cross-functional team found 40 factors contributed to the #wrongfulconviction of Eric Anderson, who spent 9 years in prison for a crime he didn't commit. Read the full story: tinyurl.com/2eehjs78

We would like to congratulate Calvin Duncan for winning the race for New Orleans' next clerk of the criminal court! Duncan spent 28 years incarcerated for a 1981 murder he didn't commit, graduating from law school, founding the Light of Justice program, and releasing his memoir post-exoneration.

QC Senior Advisor John Hollway spoke at a press event headed by Wayne County's Prosecutor's Office — releasing our newest report investigating the wrongful conviction of Eric Anderson. "The process is not about blame," he noted. "It is about building a safer and more reliable justice system."

Eric Anderson spent nine years in a Michigan prison for a crime he didn't commit. Today, we're releasing a new report — summarizing our recent sentinel event review — aiming to understand this miscarriage of justice and how we can prevent others like it. 🔗 www.law.upenn.edu/live/files/1...

BREAKING: Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt has commuted the death row sentence of Tremane Wood to life in prison without parole. Wood received a clemency recommendation from the state pardon and parole board last week, noting that Wood did not commit the murder for which he was convicted in 2002.

Tremane Wood is scheduled to be executed tomorrow at 10am in Oklahoma for a crime his brother admitted to committing. If you want to help, you can call Gov. Stitt: 405-521-2342 The pardon and parole board has recommended clemency. The final decision is up to Gov Stitt.

The state of Texas is trying to block a new hearing in #RobertRoberson’s case that could prove his innocence. He was granted a third stay of execution last month, and has spent 22 years on Texas’ death row. His case is in limbo. Read here: bit.ly/3LDvsEM

SF's public defenders are overwhelmed by their caseload, as leaders announce they're "ethically bound to refuse new appointments when caseloads make it impossible to provide competent, diligent representation to existing clients." The system of private contract attorneys is also at a breaking point:

We're honoring the service of all veterans today, and we're grateful to our friends at the Death Penalty Information Center for this new report — the first-ever comprehensive account of veterans sentenced to death in the United States. deathpenaltyinfo.org/research/ana...

The Philadelphia Police Department is solving cases at its fastest pace in 40 years, thanks to new technology and a years-long decrease in violent crime. @inquirer.com covers how they've made these accomplishments while striving for even higher clearance rates, less misconduct, and more:

In 26 states, there is no requirement that a lawyer be present at pretrial motions, but in jurisdictions that ensure counsel at first appearance (CAFA), lawyers note key benefits for defendants. A new policy brief from @innovatingjustice.bsky.social advocates for CAFA in all 50 states:

Legislation to provide released prisoners with basic ID documents upon release has stalled for the second year in a row in PA. Without identification, many formerly incarcerated people struggle to secure housing, jobs, services, and more.

How the Philadelphia court system is offering psychological first aid to help jurors process the trauma they experience while serving: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/philadelphia-jurors-mental-health-support/

There's so much happening in the world of #wrongfulconvictions, here's a quick roundup of recent news we're following: 🧵

We're enjoying @jeffasher.bsky.social's new podcast, Jeff-alytics! Check out the first four episodes on his website, including one where Jeff speaks with author Michael Lewis about the intersection of storytelling and data in the criminal legal reform landscape. 🔗 https://jasher.substack.com/

Tremane Wood is scheduled to be executed Nov. 13 in Oklahoma for a murder he has always maintained he didn't commit. His team will present evidence of his innocence at a clemency hearing tomorrow (Weds 11/5).

David Cross has always maintained his innocence in the 2000 murder of Jessica Currin. A new hearing in November will allow Cross' attorneys to present evidence or recanted witness testimony. Get the details in a new episode of ABC News' 20/20:

We recently partnered with EVOCAVI to host the Investigative Interviewing and Research Symposium 2025. Top investigators, researchers, and practitioners gathered to discuss how to advance science-based investigative interviewing methods that support just outcomes in our legal system.

Passionate about criminal justice reform? Apply for the Quattrone Center Fellowship at Penn Carey Law. Watch our Q&A with fellowship program admins Ross Miller and Paul Heaton to learn about what makes an ideal candidate. tinyurl.com/QCfellowship

Per @quattronecenter.org, "the vast majority of girls in the juvenile legal system have experienced one or more adverse childhood experiences" (e.g. violence) AND 75% meet criteria for 1+ mental health disorders.

Join the QC and Penn Toll Public Interest Center for a special screening of #TheAlabamaSolution, an HBO Original Documentary, on November 5th at 5:00 P.M. ET! Tickets are open to the public, at no cost to attendees. 🎟️ Register here: web.cvent.com/event/8c7253...

Last week, Alabama executed Anthony Boyd for a 1993 murder despite significant questions about his guilt and his representation at trial. Read more from @boltsmag.org:

QC Journalism Fellow @radleybalko.bsky.social first met Jordan Silverman at a Quattrone Center Symposium, and has followed his case closely for years. Silverman was accused in 2018 of abusing several children at a preschool, but was cleared by a police investigation and never charged.

After nine years behind bars for a murder, Nicholas McGuffin was exonerated in 2019, as there was no DNA, physical evidence, or eyewitness testimony linking him to the crime. Find out how his case unraveled, helping him recently win over $14 million in settlements.

When officers struggle with anxiety it impacts morale, performance, retention, and trust. First-line supervisors, managers, and trainers: register for the free webinar, “Supporting Officers with Anxiety,” on Oct 30, 2025. tinyurl.com/2fb77sxp

For the next two days, the QC is hosting the EVOCAVI Investigative Interviewing Symposium, where law enforcement officers, legal professionals, and researchers are sharing interviewing strategies that prioritize accuracy in the legal system. Follow our ED, @tcita.bsky.social, for live updates!

Applications are open for the Quattrone Center Fellowship at @penncareylaw.bsky.social. This research fellowship offers a year of funding, mentorship from leading scholars, a chance to publish original research, and more. Apply now: https://tinyurl.com/QCfellowship #criminaljustice #fellowship

Salt Lake County District Attorney Sim Gill argues against criminalizing issues that should be treated, rather than prosecuted. Explore how our justice system struggles with handling individuals with serious mental illness and what alternatives could look like. tinyurl.com/wfdwv88y

@quattronecenter.org Fellow Dana Bazelon examines in Slate how Trump’s Truth Social post could give James Comey and Letitia James rare grounds to file vindictive prosecution motions—potentially reshaping how courts handle politically motivated prosecutions. Read her analysis.

Anjali Ranadive, our DNA expert liaison, recapped day three of the 2025 Forensic Science Symposium in Guam. As a featured speaker, her presentation included vital tips on ethics in forensic science, a crucial component for our mission to improve the US criminal justice system.

Explore the data and processes behind Life After Justice’s National Amplification Campaign – a survey that gives a voice to those who have been wrongfully convicted. Register here and learn more on Oct 20th: https://tinyurl.com/LAJwebinar

Anjali Ranadive, DNA expert liaison with the Quattrone Center, is currently speaking at the 2025 Forensic Science Symposium in Guam. Here, Anjali shares a brief summary on her sessions from days 1-2 covering the history of DNA analysis from the late 1980s and beyond and a mock crime scene workshop.

In @slate.com, QC Fellow Dana Bazelon asks whether the indictments of James Comey & Letitia James will be tossed as vindictive or selective prosecution — and what the outcome could mean for our independent judicial system.

The Cook County CIU has lost half of its staff and hasn't exonerated anyone in over a year. New reporting from @injusticewatch.org and @boltsmag.org explores their reluctance to reverse convictions — even with a 77-page report giving evidence of using police coercion to convict.

The TX Court of Criminal Appeals has stayed the execution of Robert Roberson. QC Executive Director @tcita.bsky.social breaks down the case and what's next.

BREAKING: Robert Roberson was granted a stay of execution today from the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals, citing a 2024 decision to overturn a shaken baby conviction in Dallas as precedent. Roberson's case will now receive a second look under Texas' 2013 "junk science law."

We’re excited to announce that Anjali Ranadive, the DNA expert liaison with the Quattrone Center, will be speaking at the 2025 Forensic Science Symposium in Guam hosted by Friends of the Crime Lab. Stay tuned next week as we share key takeaways from her sessions!

Eyewitness misidentification is a leading factor in creating wrongful convictions, but the growing trend in police departments using facial recognition technology to identify suspects has the potential to exacerbate that problem tenfold. Will Collins, appellate public defender for DC, explains why:

With Robert Roberson's execution scheduled for 10/16, Dateline's new podcast, "The Last Appeal", is chronicling mounting doubts over his shaken baby conviction—through interviews with experts, lawmakers, key supporters, and Roberson himself. The first episode dropped today:

Before becoming police officers, Seattle requires new recruits to take a 720-hour "Before the Badge" training focused on becoming "community-embedded first responders". The program provides a new, holistic alternative on how we view law enforcement — not as guardians, not as warriors, but as people.