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Council to recognize International Wrongful Conviction Day; Innocence and Justice Louisiana asks for October 2 observance
Summary
Innocence and Justice Louisiana asked the council to recognize October 2 as International Wrongful Conviction Day in New Orleans; exonerated clients and staff described the organization's statewide work and urged public awareness.
Representatives from Innocence and Justice Louisiana (formerly Innocence Project New Orleans) asked the city council to recognize October 2, 2025, as International Wrongful Conviction Day. Deputy Director Meredith Angleson explained the organization's statewide role representing people who are wrongfully convicted or unjustly sentenced and noted the group's history of representing nearly half of Orleans Parish exonerees.
Ms. Angleson said New Orleans has been identified in studies as among the jurisdictions with the highest numbers of exonerations and that many exonerees choose to return and rebuild lives here after release. Two exonerees at the table, Robert Jones and Elvis Brooks, offered brief remarks about the personal and community impacts of wrongful convictions; Jones described long incarceration and Brooks stressed the need for continued public awareness and systemic reform.
Council members praised the organization's work and supported recognition of Wrongful Conviction Day as a way to raise public awareness. A proclamation honoring Innocence and Justice Louisiana and the exonerees was read and will be signed by council leadership.
Ending Council members invited further collaboration with the organization and said they will circulate and sign the proclamation recognizing the day of awareness.
