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University of Bristol Innocence Project

The University of Bristol Innocence Project (UoBIP), the first dedicated Innocence Project in the UK, is an extra-curricula pro bono legal clinic which teaches law through working on real cases of prisoners maintaining innocence. Established in January 2005 by Dr Michael Naughton, the UoBIP, which is also the founding member of the Innocence Network UK (INUK), is a collaborative venture of undergraduate and postgraduate law students working under academic supervision and guidance, where appropriate, from pro bono criminal lawyers, forensic scientists, and others.

It is important to note that the UoBIP is NOT a campaign or victim support organisation and does NOT give legal advice, which will always be given by practicing lawyers where appropriate. Rather, student members investigate individual cases either:

• In pursuit of grounds for possible appeal and/or an application to the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC), the statutory body charged with investigating alleged and suspected miscarriages of justice and referring them back to the Court of Appeal (Criminal Division) (CACD) if it thought that there is a ‘real possibility’ that the case will not be upheld; or, alternatively,
• For applications to the Secretary of State for consideration for a Free Pardon under the Royal Prerogative of Mercy if evidence of factual innocence does not constitute legally admissable grounds of appeal.

For more details on the establishment of the UoBIP, see:

• Naughton, M. (2006) ‘Wrongful Convictions and Innocence Projects in the UK: Help, Hope and Education’ Web Journal of Current Legal Issues, Special Edition on Legal Education 3.

Aims

The UoBIP aims to educate students about the wrongful conviction of the innocent and the deficiencies of the criminal justice system through their work on cases of prisoners maintaining innocence who meet the casework criteria of the Innocence Network UK (INUK).

More specifically, the UoBIP offers free assistance to prisoners who fall into all of the following categories:

• Prisoners with a declaration of factual innocence, as opposed to claims of a procedural miscarriage of justice;
• Prisoners who have exhausted the normal appeals process;
• Prisoners who have no legal representation, or whose solicitors have granted permission for us to assist.

Casework

Casework is ONLY undertaken following the completion of the annual Innocence Network UK (INUK) National Training Programme for Innocence Projects.

Caseworkers work in pairs on cases or individually on specific aspects of cases under the direction of the UoBIP General Manager, Gabe Tan.  In so doing, Caseworkers conduct fieldwork investigations, they gather, organise and critically analyse large files of documents and records, they conduct legal research, they draft letters, reports and submissions to public bodies, forensic experts, lawyers, witnesses etc., and they establish and maintain good client relationships.

This requires caseworkers to have the following attributes and skills:

• Inquisitive/curious attitude necessary for the investigation of real cases;
• Excellent organisational skills;
• Excellent written and oral communication skills;
• Able to process and analyse large amounts of information in a meticulous and detailed fashion
• The ability to work well both independently and within a team framework;
• The ability to work with a wide range of people including representatives from the various criminal justice system agencies (police, prosecutors, prison and parole staff, CCRC), criminal appeal lawyers, forensic science experts, other students, prisoners and their families;
• The capacity to take initiative (be proactive) and think strategically and critically;
• Reliable and willing to commit between 4-6 hours per week, on average over the life of the academic term (approx. 150 hours per academic year);
• Able to travel for prison visits and obtain documents, if required; and,
• Computer literacy, including experience using common office software.

Casework Enquiry

If you feel that you have been wrongly convicted or you are a family member or friend of someone who claims that they have been wrongly convicted please do NOT write to the UoBIP directly.

Instead, please write to the following address with a brief outline of the case:

You will then be sent an introductory letter that sets out the scope of the INUK and its member innocence projects and a Preliminary Questionnaire to be completed and returned to the INUK.

The INUK will assess if your case is eligible for investigation by a member innocence project based on the details provided in your Preliminary Questionnaire

Contact

If you want to know more about the work of the UoBIP, please write to: