Description:

The Northern California Innocence Project’s fifth annual awards dinner honors individuals for their exceptional dedication to freeing the wrongfully convicted and innocent people who remain incarcerated, and to bringing substantive reform to the system responsible for their unjust imprisonment. The dinner program showcases the inspiring and poignant stories of those who fought to
regain their freedom and achieve justice system reforms with the help of the Project and our pro bono law firm partners and donors.

Purpose:
To raise the annual $1.5 million needed to run the Project’s pro bono clinical program. Money raised goes towards the Project’s efforts to represent indigent prisoners with claims of innocence, educate and equip our next generation of attorneys with practical legal skills, research the causes of wrongful conviction, and effect policy changes that protect innocent people from being convicted in the future.

Thursday, March 22, 2012 at the San Jose Marriott - 301 S. Market Street, San Jose, CA 95113

I Smell a Rat: The Use of Snitch Testimony in Obtaining Criminal Convictions

Speaker: Chuck Sevilla

Convictions based on the testimony of jail house snitches, someone who stands to gain something in exchange for his testimony against another, contribute to more than 15% of the cases of wrongful conviction overturned by DNA testing. Yet snitch testimony is frequently used at trial. Using case examples, we will explore the use and misuse of snitch testimony and the risks inherent in that use, such as: How and when do prosecutors rely on “snitch” testimony? What motivates snitches to provide this information. Why does California now require inmate snitch testimony to be corroborated?

This event qualifies as 1 hour of MCLE credit* ($20 charge at the door)

General admission is free, however, donations are appreciated to help organize future breakfast briefing events.

7:30am-continental breakfast

8:00-9:00am- presentation

For more information, please contact Haley Kaprielian at (408) 551-3000 x5604 or hkaprielian@scu.edu

Innocence Matters: Breakfast Briefings, a distinguished speaker series, brings prominent thought leaders to the Northern California Innocence Project (NCIP) to discuss the prevalence and causes of wrongful convictions and the legal reforms needed to ensure our justice system's integrity. Hosted by NCIP at its office, speakers include authors, leading scholars, and legal practitioners. These no charge morning events are held the second Wednesday of each month and include a continental breakfast.

I Smell a Rat: The Use of Snitch Testimony in Obtaining Criminal Convictions

Speaker: Chuck Sevilla

Convictions based on the testimony of jail house snitches, someone who stands to gain something in exchange for his testimony against another, contribute to more than 15% of the cases of wrongful conviction overturned by DNA testing. Yet snitch testimony is frequently used at trial. Using case examples, we will explore the use and misuse of snitch testimony and the risks inherent in that use, such as: How and when do prosecutors rely on “snitch” testimony? What motivates snitches to provide this information. Why does California now require inmate snitch testimony to be corroborated?

Free lunch!

12:00pm-1:00pm

For more information, please contact Haley Kaprielian at (408) 551-3000 x5604 or hkaprielian@scu.edu

Fixing Lineups: Eyewitness Identification Reforms

Speakers: Maitreya Badami, NCIP Supervising Attorney & Jessica Seargeant, Research Assistant

Eyewitness misidentification is one of the leading causes of wrongful conviction. Finally, reforms are slowly being implemented. Learn more about the best practices, the state of California’s policies, and nationwide reform efforts.
 

This event qualifies as 1 hour of MCLE credit* ($20 charge at the door)

General admission is free, however, donations are appreciated to help organize future breakfast briefing events.

7:30am-continental breakfast

8:00-9:00am- presentation

For more information, please contact Haley Kaprielian at (408) 551-3000 x5604 or hkaprielian@scu.edu

Innocence Matters: Breakfast Briefings, a distinguished speaker series, brings prominent thought leaders to the Northern California Innocence Project (NCIP) to discuss the prevalence and causes of wrongful convictions and the legal reforms needed to ensure our justice system's integrity. Hosted by NCIP at its office, speakers include authors, leading scholars, and legal practitioners. These no charge morning events are held the second Wednesday of each month and include a continental breakfast.