Innocence is an exciting new third party volunteer project ReRight is launching in Michaelmas Term 2010.

The program gives teams of students the opportunity to investigate the case of a convicted person maintaining innocence. They examine legal documents seeking possible grounds to make an application to the Criminal Cases Review Commission.

Student tasks may also include visiting the clients in prisons, meeting with forensic scientists, interviewing witnesses, and discussing the case with other solicitors and experts. The project is not considered a replacement for legal aid, but is one of the closest experiences to practicing law that a student can have and a fantastic way for students to gain hands-on legal experience during their time here at Oxford.

The original US based Innocence Project has facilitated over 200 exonerations of cleared prisoners.

The project is run under the umbrella organization ‘Innocence Network Uk’ based at Bristol University and will be overseen by a staff mentor from Oxford University. Project work will be contained within term time.