/// Reentry Legal Services
/// Wrongful Conviction Project
Lousiana has the highest rate of wrongful convictions in the country - The city of New Orleans the biggest contributor. Thanks to the tireless work of Innocence Project New Orleans over 30 people have been freed in Louisiana and Mississippi. To date, at least 1,625 people have been released from prison following a wrongful conviction. Unfortunately, not all wrongfully convicted people are released to communities with reentry support services.
In 2015 Doug Dilosa joined our team to assist those recently released from wrongful conviction with getting back on their feet, and preparing for a successful and independent future. Doug sought to provide the support services he needed when he was released, but were tragically unavailable.
Today, our wrongful conviction project assists dozens of clients both in New Orleans and across the United States. We specifically seek to support those who are released to communities that lack local reentry support services. Through financial support, case management, budget planning, connections to local resources, and regular check ins and peer support, our wrongful conviction project is working to ensure that all people released from prison, especially those who ended up in prison due to egregious miscarriages of justice are able to grow and thrive.
Our wrongful conviction project coordinator, Doug Dilosa (top center), and our co-director, Kelly Orians (far right), pictured here with Jerome Morgan (bottom center). Jerome was exonerated in 2016 after serving over 20 years in prison for a crime he did not commit. Doug assisted him and his business partner Daniel Rideau (far left) with setting up a shop for their business Real Gentlemen Barbershop.
Doug pictured here with Michell Murphy at the Innocence Network Conference in Atlanta in 2019. Doug starting assisting Michelle following her exoneration in 2014. Today she is completely independent and living on her own in Oklahoma.
Doug pictured here with Anthony Dipippo at the 2019 Innocence Network Conference. Doug has been working with Anthony to secure legal representation and investigation services for Anthony's codefendent who is still incarcerated.