About the Innocence Project of Iowa

The Innocence Project of Iowa was founded in 2007 by a group of attorneys, professors, and students committed to the prevention of wrongful convictions and the exoneration of innocent persons. While the Iowa/Nebraska Innocence Project and other regional innocence organizations previously accepted Iowa cases, the Innocence Project of Iowa is the first innocence organization specifically focused on Iowa cases.

The Project has no paid staff but relies fully on volunteer lawyers, professors, students, and others. Case intake and initial screening is completed by the paralegal program at Iowa Lakes Community College, and additional support is provided by law students and journalism students the University of Iowa. The Project is a tax-exempt nonprofit corporation and is a member of the nationwide Innocence Network.

Board of Directors

Tom Lustgraaf, Council Bluffs

Brian Farrell, Toddville

Mark Gruwell, Estherville

Kent A. Simmons, Davenport

Advisory Board

Prof. David McCord, Drake University Law School

Prof. John Whiston, University of Iowa College of Law