Illinois Innocence Project

It was a momentous day in today, with news that three men imprisoned for nearly the last 30 years will be freed, their convictions overturned in a case the city's current prosecutor says had "no integrity" and that they should be . Jermel Shuler, Rasheed Smith, and Mark Brittingham are all scheduled to be freed in the next 24 hours. The Pennsylvania Innocence Project worked on their case in conjunction with the prosecutor's Conviction Integrity Unit.

3 men exonerated after judge overturns 1997 murder convictions; 2 released from prison Three men are being released from prison after a judge overturned their convictions for the 1997 murder of 73-year-old Essie May Thomas.

This month in 2018, we urged then-Gov. Bruce Rauner to sign our bill limiting the use of jailhouse informant testimony, which is notoriously unreliable. Improper use of jailhouse informants is one of the leading causes of wrongful conviction in Illinois.

These incarcerated individuals, many with long criminal histories, are often paid to provide information to law enforcement. They typically receive benefits in return, such as reduced sentences or immediate release from jail. This creates strong incentive to lie that can result in conviction of innocent people.

Gov. Rauner vetoed the bill, which the General Assembly overturned during the fall 2018 Veto Session.