Ohio Innocence Project at Cincinnati Law
Mark Godsey, OIP co-founder & director (left), and Brian Howe, OIP staff attorney (right), stand with Rickey Jackson (middle) during exoneration proceedings. Jackson spent 39 years in prison for a crime he didn't commit.
Welcome to the Ohio Innocence Project at Cincinnati Law, where our goal is simple: we want to free every innocent person in Ohio who has been convicted of a crime they didn't commit.
We’re proud to be a part of the University of Cincinnati, where we made our home in 2003. Since then, our work has led to the exoneration of 27 wrongfully convicted citizens who served a total of more than 450 years behind bars. That makes us one of the top-performing members among the international Innocence Network.
Our work includes helping develop and advocate for lasting criminal justice reform through legislation as well as launching Ohio Innocence Project University, an active network of student groups at colleges across the state.
- Mark Godsey, Co-Founder & Director, Ohio Innocence Project
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We Owe Our Success To:
- the generosity of Lois and Richard Rosenthal, whose support created the Rosenthal Institute for Justice, our home within Cincinnati Law
- the ongoing support of Richard Rosenthal, whose $15 million gift in 2016 ranks as the highest in the school’s history
- hundreds of Cincinnati Law students, including Innocence Project Fellows and volunteers, who have invested thousands of hours of their energy and intellect in righting what are often decades-old wrongs
- our dedicated staff of Cincinnati Law-trained attorneys, who serve as daily leaders by example—they educate the wrongfully convicted, along with students and the public, in their relentless pursuit of justice
- Cincinnati Law, a social justice powerhouse house that attracts top talent at the University of Cincinnati, a top-tier urban research university
- students from across the state of Ohio, who offer support and enthusiasm through Ohio Innocence Project University chapters on their campuses
- our all-star volunteer Board of Advocates, a group of legal experts, community leaders and others that was formed in 2013 to support our mission, vision and work
- our corporate and law firm friends who regularly provide financial and legal support to our efforts
- the tireless dedication of the innocent and their champions, whose strength, courage and resilience inspire us daily.
Information for Students, Potential Clients and Volunteers
Each year, the Ohio Innocence Project at Cincinnati Law, which ranks among the most successful projects in the Innocence Network, selects a team of 20 law students, the majority of whom are in their second year, to serve as Fellows.
OIP Fellows and staff spend many hours reading and writing letters and having telephone conversations with inmates about their cases. Prior to actively taking on a case, if not before, the OIP staff and Fellows will meet the inmate in person to discuss the case, the plan for litigation and the expectations of the inmate and the OIP in the case.
From May through August, the Fellows work 40 hours per week and receive a small stipend for their work. During the academic year, the Fellows work approximately 10 hours per week and receive class credit for their participation.
At the Ohio Innocence Project, our attorneys and students work hard to help wrongfully convicted inmates get out of prison and get the justice they deserve. You can join our staff and students as a volunteer or intern to help the wrongfully convicted.
Internships
To qualify for an internship with the OIP, you must meet the following criteria:
- enrolled in an academic program (currently or will be enrolled)
- access to reliable transportation
- ability to bring your own laptop is preferred
- self-motivated and able to work independently
- must be able to respect the confidential nature of the legal work conducted in our office (you will be required to sign a confidentiality agreement)
Our internship program is unpaid. The time commitment is 10 hours per week. The program runs from semester to semester based on the University of Cincinnati’s academic calendar. Each semester, you must re-apply to be considered but we make no guarantees you will be able to participate in the program for longer than one semester.
Some of the tasks our interns are responsible for include:
- picking up and dropping off the incoming and outgoing mail
- filing, scanning and copying
- organizing files
- answering the phones
- general administrative support
- assist with special projects as needed
- assist with events as needed
To apply for an internship, please send the following to Stephanie King at kingsp@ucmail.uc.edu:
- resume
- cover letter explaining why you are interested in our program
- 2 references
- if you are trying to receive credit for a class for this internship, please include the requirements and your advisor or program coordinator’s name and contact information
All applications will be reviewed and responded to by the manager of the internship program. If you qualify and we are interested in learning more about you, an interview at the OIP office will be scheduled.
Volunteer
To inquire about volunteer opportunities (non-internship) with the OIP, please email Stephanie King at kingsp@ucmail.uc.edu and include your resume and what your availbility is.
Need Help?
An inmate requesting the assistance of the OIP should complete the Screening Application (pdf). The inmate must FULLY COMPLETE the form and submit it to the address on the form, otherwise it will be returned and no further action will be taken until returned complete. Print out a hard copy of the application, fill out in ink, and return it by mail if you would like the OIP to review your case.
Stay tuned for information about the Bearcat Dash & Bash and our Annual Donor Breakfast.
