‘Innocence Project’ comes to Central Oregon

The cries of innocence from behind bars often fall on deaf ears. And until this past April, there wasn’t a program in Oregon for those who actually meant it.

The Oregon Innocence Project was started by a group of lawyers and investigators in the Spring. Since then, they’ve been answering to those cries for freedom, and tonight they introduced themselves to Central Oregon.

“We’ve gotten a number of inquiries from people in prison. Right now we’re at about 80,” Legal Director Steven Wax said.

Wax and his team file through a 30-page questionnaire for each prisoner request. Often times the Oregon Innocence Project delegates to local law students to wade through the paperwork. But they always need the assistance of local law enforcement.

“If we’re going to look into a claim of innocence, we need to conduct a thorough investigation,” said Wax.

Those requests for help have led to conflict in other states with similar programs. But District Attorney-elect John Hummel says that it won’t be the case in Deschutes County.

“We’re not in conflict when we say the guilty should be convicted and the innocent should go free,” Hummel said during the event hosted at the Social Justice Center in Bend.

“I see no reason for conflict, even if it’s happening in other parts of the country.”

Hummel promised to work hand-in-hand with the Oregon Innocence Project in tackling cases that need re-visitation. Not only for those wrongfully behind bars, but those who may have gotten away with crime.

“If you have a person who shouldn’t be (in prison), that means there’s probably somebody not in prison who should be,” said Wax.

Because this was the non-profit group’s first night in Central Oregon, they didn’t have any cases to work on in the area. Prisoner questionnaires are available at oregoninnocence.org.