NEIP Works to Overturn Wrongful Convictions

An accomplished biologist holding a PhD from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dr. Madhu Kumar has dedicated over 15 years to cancer research. In addition to assisting laboratories at the University of Pennsylvania, Cancer Research UK, and the University Health Network, Dr. Madhu Kumar has also drawn on his expertise in chemistry and molecular biology to support the efforts of the New England Innocence Project (NEIP).

Since 2000, NEIP has advocated for convicted persons with claims of actual innocence. Addressing cases throughout six states, the nonprofit provides pro bono legal services to reassess these cases and uncover instances of wrongful conviction.

NEIP also works to raise public awareness regarding wrongful convictions and promote legislative reform that will lessen its prevalence. This includes educating the public on the various causes of wrongful conviction, the most common of which is eyewitness misidentification. In addition to the imperfect reliability of human memory, a wrongful conviction can also be the result of a false confession stemming from mental health issues or coercive interrogation. Some wrongfully convicted defendants are victims of misconduct committed by police officers or prosecutors, while others are imprisoned following the false testimony of an informant who stands to benefit from their dishonesty. In all of these contexts, a reanalysis of DNA evidence has the potential to provide concrete scientific proof of a wrongful conviction.