Innocence Project of Florida
Overturning wrongful convictions and reforming the system to prevent injustice.
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Founded:
Jaunary 2003
 
Innocence Project of Florida

Innocence Project of Florida Tomorrow marks Bill Dillon's one year out of prison. Congrats Bill!

November 17 at 8:40am
Innocence Project of Florida
That was the title of the article from the Yale Daily News yesterday about the 1998 murder of a Yale senior, Suzanne Jovin...
Innocence Project of Florida
For the first time, the Innocence Project of Florida has law students working on cases with us remotely. About 20 students at Stetson University’s College of Law in Gulfport, FL are helping to review ten cases. ...
Innocence Project of Florida
I’m about two weeks too late covering the story of Reginald Blanton, convicted of an April 2000 shooting in Texas, but it’s one I feel is still worth sharing. Reginald and his twin brother, Robert, were friends of the victim, Carlos Garza, and had visited him the day of the murder. Th...
Sharon Simmons
Sharon Simmons
What will it take for JUSTICE to return in our judicial system...has the general public been 'snowballed' for so many years...has it always been this crooked only coming into focus due to media and investigators?
I find it hard to think we have officials within our law and judicial system proven to be more harden than the actual criminals. Who are we left to trust?
November 10 at 11:09am
Innocence Project of Florida
I just read an amusing article from the Simple Justice blog, intrigued by this photo: The article was about two Bedford County, PA, women, Evelyn Border and her daughter, Tina Griekspoor, who stole a gift certificate from a 9-year-old girl at her birthday party...
Sharon Simmons
Sharon Simmons
I applaud the prosecutor. I think if more judges would hand down this type of punishment, criminals may stop and think. As you said yourself: I know I wouldn't want my mistakes exploited in public. I strongly feel the looks and comments these two women experienced on that street, will last them a life time. They were not the victim in this circumstance...it was the nine year old child.
November 8 at 5:39pm
Innocence Project of Florida
As we chronicled here on Tuesday, Roger Dale Chapman, who testified during William Dillon’s 1981 trial that Dillon made a jailhouse confession, attended Dillon’s compensation hearing on Monday to set the record straight. The news reports don’t really do this riveting moment justice. So I...
Agnes Furey
Agnes Furey
Astonishing, the system is more than broken.
November 5 at 9:16am
Sharon Simmons
Sharon Simmons
I hope we read in the future these persons being held responsible for their actions. Who threw 'perjury' out the courthouse window?
November 8 at 5:49pm
Joanne Popowick
Joanne Popowick
where is the justice for Bill?why was it ok to take 27 yrs away from him for nothing because you had two liars and one ex making it with a cop,i'm sorry ,wrong,He did not deserve to remain behind bars for no reason all that time, my heart breaks for Bill,he has to relearn everything life took away from him for nothing,the cop ought to be in jail ... See Morefor corruption,the dog guy died, but the guy who lied even if he said he was sorry ought to be held accountable.
Bill deserves to be compinsated for all that time and the da and gov is overlooking it because of one stupid prior thing in 1979,whats that got to do with this case?nothing,i remember this story in 1981,i remember saying to myself"something smelled fishy,he didn't do it" and sure enough 27 yrs wasted because the da and police are a bunch of morons and made this man spend half his life in jail for nothing,I hope bill fights them and gets what eh deserves justice,God bless you bill.
November 10 at 7:12am
Innocence Project of Florida
Yesterday the New York Times ran a good article on dog-scent lineups looking particularly at cases in Texas involving that state’s version of discredited dog handler John Preston (see previous coverage of Preston here, here, here, and here. According to the Times,Deputy Keith A. ...
Innocence Project of Florida
On Monday, William Dillon’s special claims bill was before a hearing at the Division of Administrative Hearings (DOAH) in Tallahassee, where lawyers for the Florida Legislature are considering compensation for the 27 years Dillon spent in prison before his release last year after DNA testing e...
Sharon Simmons
Sharon Simmons
How do you really 'know' if the potential leaders have some sense of decency and ethics...we have voted on this platform year after year only to be mistaken. Sadly, we do not know the true person till they have been sworn in. It did not take a Rocket Scientist to understand why our politicians were strong for the 'clean hands' provision. If the ... See Moretruth could be told over half of them would not qualify.
Our government of this state needs to realize how wide spread their actions are being watched....they are 'NOT' exhibiting leadership quality amongst other political leaders or citizens. What are they teaching our children....if you have enough power you are 'above' the law? How easy the citizens of this state, well being and Rights, are being comprimised when chosing between government position and pride. Let's show our children we will proudly state: I made a mistake, and I am more than willing to make amends for it .
Too many Cherry Trees are being choped down with no one accepting the blame.
November 8 at 6:35pm
Innocence Project of Florida
Roger Dale Chapman, a jailhouse snitch whose testimony helped to convict William Dillon in 1981, admitted to lying on the stand and apologized to Dillon at yesterday’s compensation hearing. ...
Joanne Popowick
Joanne Popowick
well he admitted he lied, to little to late is my outlook.
November 10 at 7:12am
Innocence Project of Florida
Innocence Project of Florida
Last week I posted a blog about Gary Bennett, who has spent 25 years in jail due in part to John Preston and his scent dogs. Today an article runs in Florida Today outlining Gary Bennett’s case and his pursuit for DNA testing. ...
Innocence Project of Florida

Innocence Project of Florida Update on Bill Dillon's Compensation hearing this morning.

www.tallahassee.com
An administrative hearing on a $1.35 million bill to pay a Brevard County man for 27 years he spent in prison on a wrongful murder conviction began today with a judicial warning that standards of evidence are reversed in the legislative proceedings.
Joanne Popowick
Joanne Popowick
he should get comensated for all he's been through,good luck bill.
November 10 at 7:13am
Innocence Project of Florida
This morning in Tallahassee, FL William Dillon’s attorneys will present a case for compensation for his wrongful conviction and incarceration, and will demonstrate the improprieties by the state in the investigation and prosecution of Dillon’s case. Di...
Innocence Project of Florida
Johnson was convicted for the 1981 murders of three individuals including a Lakeland deputy. Governor Crist recently signed Johnson’s death warrant at the urging of Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd and a 3,000 strong petition drive. The execution had been scheduled for November 4th. ...
Innocence Project of Florida
Last weekend, Patriot-News reporter Pete Shellem died unexpectedly. During his 23 years at Patriot-News, Shellem investigated several questionable convictions which led to the freedom of several innocent people...