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"The Ohio Innocence Project (OIP) seeks to identify inmates in Ohio prisons who are actually innocent of the crimes they were convicted of committing." |
I first heard of OIP this past year when a friend received an internship working with them. I quickly grew fascinated. I, like most people, am thrilled when a bad guy is caught and sentenced to time in prison for a crime he/she committed. That person lost their privilege, and is no longer deserving, of a life living amongst society. What I, and most people, fail to consider is the possibility that, unless there is clear evidence that physically shows the individual committing the crime, they could actually be innocent. There are so many factors that can contribute to wrongful convictions and OIP has opened my eyes up to these mistakes. Imagine if you had been in the wrong place, at the wrong time, and found yourself in a police lineup where a shaken-up, beyond terrified and unstable eyewitness points to you as the man/woman who is to blame though you are completely innocent. This is now legal evidence and the judge sentences you to life in prison leaving behind your job, your family, your friends; leaving behind your life though you did not even commit the crime. I know if this would ever happen to me, I would want someone there who believes me and of my innocence, and is willing to fight for my freedom.
“We might lose a case, but we never give up.”
-Jodi Shorr (OIP Director)
I know that it is unfair and unrealistic for me to expect there are no faults in our justice system. When these errors do occur though, I am so grateful to know there are Innocence Projects, such as, The Ohio Innocence Project to clean up their destruction. Though most are guilty of the crimes they were convicted of, I perceive all inmates in the same way, inhumane and sick. It never crossed my mind that one of those men could be sitting in a prison cell, serving time for a crime he did not commit. There are several reasons to blame for wrongful convictions and members of OIP address each of these to prove an individual of their innocence. Witnessing first hand the willpower members of Ohio Innocence Project demonstrate in preparation to fight for an individual’s innocence is absolutely incredible.