This item was first placed on the F.A.C.T. website on 16th April 2005
Six months on from the Innocence Projects Colloquium, University of Bristol, it seems timely to provide an update of innocence project activity. It is still very, very early days yet, but as will be seen below, the signs are that the seeds are starting to be sown for a vibrant network of student participation in alleged wrongful convictions - fingers crossed!
Bristol
I am pleased to report that the University of Bristol Innocence Project held its first meeting 27 January 2005. The Project is very much in an embryonic phase at present. It comprises myself, Bharat Malkani - who is a 1st year postgraduate and the Postgraduate Director - and around 10 undergraduates, primarily 1st year students and a couple of second year students. It was decided that there would be little point in recruiting 3rd year students to get the Project up-and-running, as by the time they were in a position to handle a case they would have completed their studies!
We are meeting weekly in a training mode capacity to discuss key academic texts and other materials, i.e. films and made for television documentaries and dramatisations about wrongful conviction cases to provide vital background information to the students. The idea is that the students will take on their first case sometime in 2006.
In addition, 'guests' including victims of false allegations and wrongful convictions, case-workers from campaigning organisations, and the Criminal Cases Review Commission have agreed to visit to speak to the students about their various experiences and hold workshops on their expertise. In addition, representatives from a local criminal law firm with whom we have an association will train the students in interviewing clients and writing legal letters.
In the meantime, the University of Bristol Innocence Project is acting as a referral system for the INUK by inviting unassisted applicants to have their cases assessed by the Projects' solicitors. So far we have had an assessment of 15 cases by our solicitors for their merits, many of which will be explored further by the students. In addition, Bharat is exploring a case in his specialist area - International Human Rights Law - that was previously supported by the organisation Liberty - with a view to possibly drafting an application to the European Court of Human Rights at Strasburg. For more information contact Michael Naughton
Leeds
Since the Colloquium, Carole McCartney has also been busy putting the foundations in place for innocence project activity at Leeds. She has just returned from a fact-finding trip to the US Innocence Network about getting an innocent project started. She will, also, travel to Australia in the summer to learn more about the educational benefits of student participation on innocence projects. Carole has promised a report of these activities for the website. For further information contact Carole McCartney
The ingredients for an innocence project are also coming together in Manchester. Following approaches to the University of Manchester by members of INNOCENT and enquiries from locally based barristers who heard about the INUK through the University of Bristol Alumni Newsletter, a new appointee to the Law School with a history of activism against police misconduct will strive to develop the existing Legal Advice Centre so that students get involved in research on wrongful convictions. For more information contact Andrew Green
Hazel Keirle and Russ Spring (Miscarriages of Justice Organisation) have the basis of a formal agreement with the Law School for a pilot project. Hazel reports that initial protocols have been agreed and the case materials for the first case are in the process of being transferred to Warwick with a view to being operationalised later this year. To avoid Warwick being inundated with requests for assistance from alleged victims of wrongful conviction/imprisonment, Hazel and Russ are acting as a filter and will select appropriate cases and aspects of cases for students to research. For further information contact Hazel
London
A defence-orientated Chambers in London held the first meeting of the Innocence Group on the 25 March to explore the feasibility of utilising students on the Bar Vocational and Legal Practice courses to research aspects of alleged wrongful convictions. It was reported that there was an enthusiastic response from most of the members, but that there were also many questions about the practicalities and possible pitfalls of innocence projects. The INUK will endeavour to address the concerns of the Innocence Group and support the collaboration of legal professionals, students and local activists (London Against Injustice) to bring innocence projects activity in London to fruition.
All in all, then, things are shaping up for a meaningful 2nd Innocence Projects Colloquium around innocence project activity to take place - watch this space!
Submitted by Michael Naughton