Pennsylvania Innocence Project

Name

Pennsylvania Innocence Project

Legal name

Pennsylvania Innocence Project

Website

https://painnocence.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2009

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Legal Aid Services

NAICS

Educational Services (611)

SIC

Services-Legal Services (8111), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Criminal Defense (BPAHAAAN)

akta.pro secondary industry

Reentry, Rehabilitation & Reintegration Programs (Education, Vocational, Case Management) (BPAKANAH)

Keywords

• Wrongful conviction exoneration
• Post-conviction legal services
• Reentry support services
• Criminal justice advocacy
• Innocence legal representation

Headquarters

HQ city

Pittsburgh

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: Tax-deductible charitable donations from individuals. Donations can be made online via secure payment portal, by check, wire transfer, donor-advised fund, retirement accounts, legacy gifts, and gifts of securities.
2. Grants and Foundation Support: Charitable organization receiving grant funding as a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit with EIN 26-3176893.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The Pennsylvania Innocence Project provides free legal representation to wrongfully convicted individuals incarcerated in Pennsylvania state or federal courts through a four-stage case review and litigation process. The organization also delivers reentry support to freed and exonerated clients and conducts policy advocacy and educational programming aimed at preventing wrongful convictions. All services are provided at no cost to clients and are funded through charitable donations and grants.

Product overview

The Pennsylvania Innocence Project is a nonprofit legal organization offering three integrated service areas: Legal Services (free case review and representation for wrongfully convicted individuals through a four-stage review process), Reentry Services (support groups and post-release assistance for freed and exonerated clients), and Advocacy and Education (policy work, amicus briefs, and educational programming). The organization serves clients across Pennsylvania and is part of the Innocence Network coalition.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Legal Services Free legal representation for wrongfully convicted individuals in Pennsylvania state or federal courts, including case investigation, litigation, and exoneration support through a four-stage case review process.
• Reentry Services Support and reintegration services for freed and exonerated clients, including access to benefits, mental health support, weekly check-ins, goal identification, connection to local resources, and facilitated support groups.
• Advocacy and Education Policy and practice advocacy to improve outcomes for the wrongfully convicted, submission of amicus briefs, and educational programming to train attorneys and service providers on innocence work and wrongful conviction issues.

Quantifiable outcome

• 40 clients exonerated, losing nearly 1,000 combined years of wrongful incarceration
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers13 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

23 partnerships are on record, tiered core and notable.

• Innocence NetworkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoalition of 70+ organizations dedicated to freeing the innocent and preventing wrongful convictions worldwide. Established 2005. Member organizations have achieved more than 700 exonerations. PAIP participates in annual gatherings and Wrongful Conviction Day initiatives.
• Temple University Beasley School of LawcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFormal externship program hosting law students for training on post-conviction work. Faculty member Professor Jules Epstein contributes expertise on mistaken identifications.
• Villanova University School of LawcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFormal externship program hosting law students. Board member Doris DelTosto Brogan is Immediate Past President and affiliated with Villanova.
• Duquesne University School of LawcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFormal externship program hosting law students for training on post-conviction work.
• University of Pittsburgh School of LawcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFormal externship program hosting law students for training on post-conviction work.
• Drexel University Thomas R. Kline School of LawcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFormal externship program hosting law students for training on post-conviction work.
• WURD RadionotableGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership on podcast series 'Exonerated: The Cost of Wrongful Convictions' - a limited podcast and radio interview series featuring PAIP clients and Executive Director Zane Memeger.
• The Quattrone Center for the Fair Administration of JusticenotableStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on virtual book talk with John Lentini discussing his book 'Twice Burned: A Fire Scientist's Adventures in Overturning and Preventing Wrongful Convictions'.
• Cozen O'ConnornotableImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerPro bono legal team including fire investigation expert Larry Walker and former Philadelphia prosecutor Matt Glazer worked on Harold Staten's case. Helped file Post Conviction Relief petition.
• Federal Community Defender OfficenotableImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerPartnered with attorney Andrew Childers representing Eddie Ramirez and Claudia Flores on Darrell McKelvie case.
• Reed Smith LLPnotableImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerLocal counsel Dave Fawcett of Reed Smith worked with PAIP on Greg Brown's case for new trial.
• Kairys, Rudovsky, Messing, Feinberg & Lin LLPnotableImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerCo-founder David Rudovsky worked on William Johnson case for over a decade; Susan Lin represents David Sparks in related federal proceedings.
• Wiseman & Schwartz LLPnotableImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerMichael Wiseman represented Eddie Ramirez and Donte Rollins; recipient of 2022 Maureen Rowley Award.
• Littler Mendelson P.C.notableImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerRachel Fendell Satinsky provided pro bono representation on Jeffrey Dawkins case; received Eddie D. Ohlbaum Volunteer Award in 2025.
• Holland & Knight LLPnotableImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerTara Param provided pro bono representation on Jeffrey Dawkins case.
• Dechert LLPnotableImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerJulia Chapman and James Figorski represented David Sparks; received 2025 JoAnne Epps Hero of Justice Award. Judy Leone, President of Dechert LLP, is on PAIP Board.
• Morgan Lewis & Bockius LLPnotableImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerPro bono counsel Julia Jacovides and Dana Becker worked on Lester Eiland's case for more than a decade.
• Ballard SpahrnotableImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerPro bono team led by litigation partner Thomas Hazlett involved in Dawud Turner's case since DNA motion years ago.
• Philadelphia District Attorney's Office Conviction Integrity UnitcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKey government partner that reviews and reinvestigates cases. CIU has worked on multiple exonerations including Marc Brittingham, James Kelly, William Bailey, Harold Staten, David Sparks, Eddie Ramirez, and William Johnson.
• Schnader Harrison Segal & Lewis LLPnotableImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerAttorneys Ralph Wellington, Edward Sholinsky, and Alexandra Fahringer worked on LaFaye Gaskins case. Nilam Sanghvi previously practiced at this firm.
• DLA PipernotableImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerAttorneys represented codefendant Rasheed Smith in Marc Brittingham case.
• Exoneration ProjectnotableImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerAmelia Maxfield of the Exoneration Project serves as co-counsel on multiple cases including Marc Brittingham and Jeffrey Dawkins; Jules Epstein serves on PAIP Board.
• Blank Rome LLPnotableImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerLegal team from Blank Rome represented William Bailey. Grant S. Palmer and Hon. Timothy K. Lewis are Board members.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Ohio Innocence Project: Based at Ohio State University, this innocence project combines law school clinic operations with full legal representation and exoneration work. Similar mission and Innocence Network membership, with a slight academic-clinic variant in structure.
• New England Innocence Project: A state/regional innocence organization providing free post-conviction legal services to wrongfully convicted individuals, similar four-stage case review process, and reentry support. Closest functional analog to PAIP in a different geography.
• Georgia Innocence Project: State-focused innocence organization offering free post-conviction legal services in Georgia. Comparable scale, mission, and Innocence Network participation.
• Mid-Atlantic Innocence Project: Serving the District of Columbia, Maryland, and Virginia with the same model — free legal representation, post-conviction relief, and reentry services. A neighboring jurisdiction peer with directly overlapping mission, structure, and Innocence Network affiliation.
• California Innocence Coalition: Coalition of California innocence organizations providing legal services and advocacy for the wrongfully convicted. Comparable mission at a larger geographic scale and shared Innocence Network affiliation.
• Illinois Innocence Project: Statewide innocence organization providing free legal services and reentry support in Illinois. Direct functional peer with comparable staff structure, donor model, and case review process.

Others

• Witness to Innocence: National exoneree-led advocacy organization focused on the death penalty and wrongful conviction policy. Adjacent mission that complements innocence projects' legal work with policy advocacy and exoneree voice.
• Innocence Network: Coalition of 70+ innocence organizations that PAIP belongs to. Functions as an enabling/ecosystem peer — sets standards, coordinates Wrongful Conviction Day, and provides shared advocacy infrastructure but does not directly represent clients.

Emerging players

• After Innocence: Niche reentry-focused organization serving exonerees in California. Overlaps with PAIP's Reentry Services offering (mental health support, benefits access, support groups), but does not provide legal representation — a partial/emerging peer.

Broad incumbents

• Innocence Project: The national Innocence Project is the originating organization and trademark licensor of PAIP. It operates the largest innocence program in the U.S. with broader scope, larger staff, and a national policy platform — directly comparable mission and operating model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights8 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@PaInnocenceProject/videos
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-pennsylvania-innocence-project-pip
• Xx.com/innocencepa
• Facebookfacebook.com/InnocencePA

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Pennsylvania Innocence Project