Get Help

Washington Innocence Project provides free legal and investigative services to wrongfully convicted people whose innocence can be demonstrated through newly discovered evidence, including (but not limited to) DNA.

If you are seeking assistance for a wrongful conviction outside of Washington State, the Innocence Network can assist you in finding the organization that serves your jurisdiction.

THE INNOCENCE NETWORK

If you are looking for legal representation for a wrongful conviction outside of Washington State, there are innocence organizations across the country and worldwide that can help. The Washington Innocence Project is just one of many organizations that make up the Innocence Network. Use their directory to find your local organization

INNOCENCE NETWORK DIRECTORY

Qualifications

We select cases based on a number of factors. In order to be considered for assistance, applicants must meet the following criteria:

• Be wrongly convicted of a state or federal felony crime in Washington State.
• No longer have a right to appointed counsel.
• Be unable to afford counsel.
• Have completed their direct appeals process.
• Have a claim of innocence that can be proven through DNA testing or other newly discovered evidence.
• Have no involvement in the crime. We do not take cases where the claim is an affirmative defense, such as consensual sex, self-defense, or accidental death.

Steps to Apply

1. If you are unsure if you meet our eligibility requirements, the person seeking assistance may complete a Screening Questionnaire [English]  [Spanish] before submitting a full Application for Assistance (link below).
2. This Screening Questionnaire or Application for Assistance should be completed as fully as possible in order to speed up our review and evaluation process.
3. If you require special assistance to complete either the Screening Questionnaire or Application for Assistance, please call (206) 636-9479.
4. Please submit your Screening Questionnaire or Application for Assistance by mail. We do not conduct intake evaluations by email or phone unless an accommodation is require.
5. Please be aware that after receiving a fully completed Application for Assistance, our initial evaluation can take several months to complete. After a comprehensive file review, which can often take years to complete, our legal team will notify you if we’re able to represent you. Any review of an applicant’s records does not constitute legal representation until a Legal Services Agreement has been entered into by both the applicant and Washington Innocence Project.

The completed application should be mailed directly to:

Washington Innocence Project
PO Box 85869
Seattle, WA 98145

Send an Application to Someone

Complete this form and we will mail an Application for Assistance directly to your loved one in a Washington State prison.

Complete Form

Printable Application for Assistance

Download Application

Formulario Para Solicitar Ayuda

Descargar Formulario