About Us
With a dedicated focus on addressing wrongful convictions, ICLSU confronts a deeply troubling reality that individuals are unjustly imprisoned, often due to underlying factors of systemic racism. The disproportionate impact on Black and Latinx communities, with 64% of those freed with the assistance of the Innocence Project being from these demographics, highlights the deeply ingrained inequities within our legal system. These injustices not only affect the innocent individuals who are wrongfully convicted but also reverberate through their families and communities, perpetuating cycles of trauma and distrust. Twenty-one out of twenty-three exonerations based on DNA evidence in Louisiana involved mistaken eyewitness identifications, showcasing a glaring flaw in the process of criminal justice. The fact that two of these individuals were sentenced to the death penalty underscores the severity of the issue and the dire consequences of such miscarriages of justice. In response to these challenges, the Innocence Club at LSU believes in education and advocacy on these pressing issues. Through outreach efforts, we seek to inform the public about the flaws that lead to wrongful convictions, including witness misidentification, misapplication of forensic science, false confessions, coerced pleas, unreliable informants, inadequate defense, and official misconduct.We aim to push for changes that will address the root causes of wrongful convictions and ensure a fairer and more equitable criminal justice system for all. Fundraising efforts are also a pillar of our organization, as we seek to support the vital work of local organizations connected with The Innocence Network. These funds provide critical resources for legal representation, investigative efforts, and support services for innocent individuals and their families as they navigate the complex process of exoneration and reintegration into society.
