ABSTRACT
This chapter explores the development of innocence commissions in America since 2002. It considers the different definitions and functions of innocence commissions that have evolved since 2002. The chapter presents the stories of a selection of innocence commissions that have emerged since 2002 in California, Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, Oklahoma, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Texas, Wisconsin, and Virginia. It also evaluates the main criticisms lobbied at innocence commissions in light of those stories. The term "innocence commission" is used to describe a variety of organizations that are different in name, function, power, resource, composition, permanency, and conception. Despite some natural overlap, three general categories of innocence commissions have emerged since the start of the new millennium: error correction commissions; systemic reform commissions and integrity programs. Error correction commissions review and investigate existing post-conviction cases in order to unearth wrongful convictions.
