The Basics
The Texas Legislature directed TIDC to contract with six public law schools in Texas to operate innocence projects:
- The Texas Center for Actual Innocence at the University of Texas School Of Law
- The University of Houston Law Center Innocence Project (formerly Texas Innocence Network)
- The Thurgood Marshall School of Law Innocence Project at Texas Southern University
- Texas A&M University College of Law (working with The Innocence Project of Texas)
- Texas Tech University School of Law (working with The Innocence Project of Texas)
- Joyce Ann Brown Innocence Clinic at the UNT Dallas College of Law
At each innocence project, law students work under the direction of attorneys to review actual innocence claims. TIDC provides $100,000 in funding per clinic per year.
Learn More
Texas law schools' approaches to innocence claims varies. Three funded law schools directly employ supervising attorneys, while two contract with the Innocence Project of Texas, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, to implement innocence programs. At each school, law school students earn credit through a clinical program or externship that provides real-world experience working on criminal cases.
TIDC funding is used to defray the costs of the projects' supervising attorneys. The innocence projects normally seek additional funds for litigation expenses, investigation, forensic testing, and expert consultation.
In addition to the six programs funded in part by TIDC, several other innocence programs operate in Texas. Visit the Innocence Network to learn more.
Note: TIDC does not provide direct representation or legal advice.
File an Innocence Claim
TIDC-funded innocence projects have developed a standard questionnaire. You can access that form here or find it in the Texas Offender Legal Handbook:
Have Questions?
TIDC's Grant Team can help.
