The CT Innocence Fund was created to assist newly released exonerees who have been recently released from prison based on proof of actual innocence of the crimes for which they were imprisoned. A state statute provides for compensation for such exonerees, but that process is slow and leaves newly-released exonerees without support during their first months of freedom.
This is a tax-deductible fund to provide monetary advances to assist newly-released exonerees with immediate financial needs prior to awards of compensation from the State of Connecticut. The advances will be loans, to be repaid out of the exonerees’ compensation awards, and will thereby be a self-replenishing fund.
-
Kenneth Ireland
"In 1988, when I was only 18, I was arrested for the murder and sexual assault of a mother of four. I was convicted and sentenced to 50 years in Connecticut’s maximum security prison. In 2009, when I was 39, I was finally released after serving 21 years. The CT Innocence Project was able to prove my innocence using DNA testing.
On the day of my release I owned nothing. Had there been an Innocence Fund that I could’ve utilized, my transition would have been less of a burden on myself and on my family and friends. I would like to personally thank everyone who has made a donation to the CT Innocence Fund. This fund will help ensure that exonerees will not have to go though the same struggles that I’ve had to endure."
CIF Resources & Governing Documents
Governing Documents
- Proposal to the Fellows of Connecticut Bar Foundation, 2010 (pdf)
- Invitation to organizational meeting, 2011 (pdf)
- MOU Connecticut Bar Foundation and Community Partners in Action, 2012 (pdf)
- Advisory Committee Governance Procedures (pdf)
- Exoneree’s application for loan (pdf)
- Promissory note standard form (pdf)
- Attorney’s form letter of protection (pdf)
- CIF Fundraising Planning Committee checklist (pdf)
- CIF Brochure (pdf)
- CIF Fundraising event agenda (pdf)
- CIF solicitation flyer (pdf)
For further information contact:
- Timothy Fisher, Dean Emeritus, UConn School of Law: timothy.fisher@uconn.edu
- Connecticut Innocence Project, Office of the Chief Public Defender, (860) 258-4940
Click to read "Innocence Loan Funds: A New Approach for Exoneree Support" in Seattle Journal for Social Justice, Volume 23, No. 3, by Timothy Fisher.
