What is the UBC Innocence Project and what do they do?
Innocence Projects are programs which provide post-conviction review in response to claims of wrongful conviction. These programs are usually based within law schools where students conduct case reviews under the supervision of a Director and/or volunteer lawyers. The work in these post-conviction reviews is completed free of charge, however students may receive course credit for their work.
The UBC Innocence Project at the Allard School of Law was established in 2007, and engages the talents and enthusiasm of a selected group of law students, alongside volunteer lawyers, to review claims of wrongful conviction, predominantly in British Columbia.
The goals of the UBC Innocence Project are to:
- investigate claims of wrongful conviction;
- identify potential miscarriages of justice;
- assist in securing the release of individuals who have been wrongly convicted;
- educate law students about the causes of wrongful conviction;
- educate law students about the proper roles of professionals in the criminal justice system; and
- provide skills training for law students conducting post-conviction review work.
Through a multi-stage review process and under the direction of lawyers, law students take on the immense task of reviewing a case from the original investigation to the final appeal. If, at the end of this process, the Project believes that the case merits consideration by the Minister of Justice, students will assist counsel in preparing the appropriate application. The UBC Innocence Project at the Allard School of Law is a member of the International Innocence Network that exposes, documents, and aims to prevent wrongful convictions.
Past cases that the UBC Innocence Project has investigated:
Case Example 1: Tomas Yebes was acquitted 37 years after his original conviction. Mr. Yebes’s nephew had brought his case to the attention of the UBC Innocence Project when he participated as a law student and after graduation he continued to help advocate for Mr. Yebes. Advances in forensic science eventually proved that Mr. Yebes was not responsible for the fire that tragically killed his two adopted sons. Having cleared his name, Mr. Yebes has started his own online art gallery and spends time with his wife and family.
Case Example 2: Gerald Klassen was convicted of first-degree murder, and spent 27 years in prison. He maintained his innocence throughout his incarceration. An expert’s review of his case concluded that the original pathology evidence that led to his conviction was flawed, and four new experts agreed that Mr. Klassen’s account of events, which had been rejected at trial, was, in fact, plausible. The federal justice minister ordered a new trial, finding that there was a likely miscarriage of justice in Mr. Klassen’s case. The crown ultimately stayed the proceedings against Mr. Klassen, ending an almost 30 year fight to clear his name.
How/Why do we support the UBC Innocence Project?
We have been supporting the UBC Innocence Project since it began at the Allard School of Law roughly 18 years ago. We support this program by coordinating various fundraising events that attract attendees and bring the UBC community together, and donate the proceeds from our ticket sales to the program to provide additional funding for the crucial work they do within our justice system free of charge. The funds we raise for the UBC Innocence Project every year are used towards paying for expert reports, private investigation, and any DNA testing in appropriate cases. We also support this program by holding educational events, moderated by Tamara Levy KC, the co-founder and Director of the UBC Innocence Project. These events aim to inform students in the UBC Pre-Law community about the Project and raise awareness and spark interest for future support or involvement.
The UBC Pre-Law Association consistently chooses to fundraise for the UBC Innocence Project, because as a club composed of students interested in pursuing a career in law, the program’s mission holds great value. The UBC Innocence Project’s goal of identifying miscarriages of justice and resolving wrongful convictions accomplishes the important work of ensuring our justice system is functioning correctly and justly, which is central to the practice of law.