Freeing the innocent and unjustly incarcerated, and advocating for accurate, accountable, and fair systems of Justice
Mission Statement
Because liberty and justice are paramount to democratic society, it is the mission of the Montana Innocence Project to free the innocent and unjustly incarcerated, and advocate for systems of Justice that are accurate, accountable, and fair for all.
Innocence Programs
Innocence programs give pro bono representation to people with claims of innocence. Innocence programs are independent of The Innocence Project, but they all share the common goal of ending wrongful convictions.
Who We Are
We were founded in 2008 and are based in the Alexander Blewett III School of Law at the University of Montana. We achieve our mission through a combination of advocacy, pro bono legal representation, and education.
Testimonials
“I am grateful for MTIP’s amazing work. My family and friends can never adequately thank the lawyers and volunteers who worked so hard on my case. I am looking forward to spending the rest of my life as a free man.”
–Dave Wilkes, Freed Client
“The Montana Innocence Project has been with me since the beginning. It’s been a really long road, and they have not stopped. They don’t want to see one innocent person in prison. They haven’t given up on me, and, honestly, without them, I wouldn’t have hope.”
– Katie Garding, Current Client
“My clinical experience fostered a deep appreciation for the importance of post-conviction relief work. The organization is full of passionate individuals working to right one of our society’s gravest wrongs—the incarceration of humans for crimes they did not commit. I was mentored not only in the practice of law but in the practice of compassion, empathy, and understanding.”
– Riley Wavra, 2020 Clinic Student
