Great North Innocence Project

During this #WomensHistoryMonth, the Great North Innocence Project celebrates Cassandra Black Elk, the first woman who was ever exonerated by GNIP. Cassi is a determined, hardworking, and witty woman, mother, sister, auntie, and friend. She was wrongfully convicted in the death of her infant daughter, StarLight, and was exonerated and freed in January 2023. She is an outspoken advocate to educate other parents and caregivers about sudden, unexplained infant death (commonly known as SIDS). We honor her struggle and celebrate her perseverance, wisdom, and grace.

Our exonerated client Robert Bintz spent nearly 25 years in prison for a crime he did not commit. Hear from Robert in this recent interview about his experience and how feels now that he is free.

GNIP's legal director, Jim Mayer, is going to be featured in a documentary about cutting-edge investigative genetic genealogy techniques! He recently returned from New Jersey after being interviewed with Deanna Lankford, Director of Forensic Casework at Bode Technology; David Gurney, Director of Ramapo College of New Jersey Investigative Genetic Genealogy Center; and Cairenn Binder, Assistant Director of Rampao IGG Center. The documentary will premier at the 2025 Human Identification Solutions Conference.

Robert Bintz, who was exonerated after years of work by the Great North Innocence Project and pro bono partners at Chestnut Cambronne PA and Ramapo College of New Jersey's Investigative Genetic Genealogy Center, recently filed for compensation from the state of Wisconsin for his time spent wrongfully incarcerated. Represented by Jarrett Adams, Robert (and his brother David, who was represented by the Wisconsin Innocence Project and exonerated for the same crime), are asking the state of Wisconsin to consider raising their compensation from $25,000 to $2 million in alignment with other states. Both brothers spent nearly 25 years in prison for a crime they did not commit.

During #BlackHistoryMonth, the Great North Innocence Project honors the freed and exonerated Black individuals who were unjustly convicted, and continues to advocate for those who still are wrongfully incarcerated.

A message from our executive director, Sara Jones: On Monday, the Trump administration issued a memorandum pausing the disbursements of all federal grants and loans pending a review by the administration. Yesterday, the administration rescinded that pause. The uncertainty around the availability of future federal dollars for the Great North Innocence Project's work remains as we await further information. What is certain, however, is the Great North Innocence Project's unwavering commitment to freeing the wrongfully convicted and providing robust, high quality, pro bono legal representation to our innocent clients. I assure our clients, their families, and our community that our team's efforts to realize justice for innocent people will continue regardless of the outcome of federal funding now and into the future. Thank you for continuing to support our mission to free the wrongfully convicted. Together, we will free more innocent people, no matter how high the hurdles.

Please join us in congratulating our Board Chair James Volling for being named the 2025 recipient of the Chesterfield Smith Award by the Pro Bono Institute! This award recognizes extraordinary courage and commitment to pro bono by a legal leader. The award is not given annually; rather only when warranted by outstanding achievement. In addition to serving as our Board Chair, Jim also volunteers with GNIP's legal team representing Amy Wilkerson, who is wrongfully incarcerated in Mississippi. Congratulations on this well-deserved honor, Jim!

Congratulations to our Board member Lacey Kinnart for being featured in Tribal Business News as a "person on the move in Indian Country!"

Happy birthday to Great North Innocence Project's client, Terry Olson! Terry is a kind, strong, and inspirational person who was freed in 2016 after over 10 years of wrongful incarceration for a crime he did not commit. Join us in wishing Terry a very happy birthday! #wrongfulconviction #innocence

We are thrilled to welcome Lacey Kinnart to the Great North Innocence Project Board of Directors! Lacey is an enrolled citizen of the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians and has spent her entire career working within Indian Country. She currently serves as the Oral History Project Operations Manager at the National Native American Boarding School Healing Coalition where she leads a groundbreaking national project documenting the experiences of survivors of Indian boarding schools. Over the past 12 years, Lacey has been a steadfast advocate for individuals wrongfully convicted, playing a pivotal role in securing the exoneration and freedom of her partner, Danny Wilber, who was wrongfully imprisoned for 18 years for a murder he did not commit. Lacey is passionate about raising awareness of these issues and working to effect meaningful, systemic change within the justice system. Welcome, Lacey!