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 students at Drake Law School and the University of Iowa College of Law. The Project is an Iowa nonprofit corporation and is a member of the nationwide Innocence Network.
Board of Directors
Tom Lustgraaf, Council Bluffs
Brian Farrell, Cedar Rapids
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