Center for Integrity in Forensic Sciences

What Center for Integrity in Forensic Sciences does

The Center for Integrity in Forensic Sciences (CIFS) is a Wisconsin-based 501(c)-style non-profit legal advocacy organization founded in 2019 to challenge unreliable forensic science in criminal proceedings. Headquartered at 33 E Main St, Ste 400 in Madison, WI, CIFS operates with a small staff of 3-5 members led by Executive Director Katherine H. Judson (formerly SBS/AHT Litigation Coordinator at the Wisconsin Innocence Project), Research Director Dr. Kelly Sutherland (an applied cognitive psychologist), and Communications and Development Specialist Madeline Wheeden. The organization does not build software or sell products; its core technology is specialized cross-disciplinary expertise at the intersection of forensic science, cognitive psychology, and criminal defense law.

CIFS delivers a portfolio of services: filing amicus briefs in state and federal courts (nearly 40 filed since 2019), providing free consultations to defense attorneys on complex forensic science cases, conducting attorney training (including the annual Forensic Justice Institute with the State Bar of Wisconsin for CLE credit), occasionally providing direct post-conviction representation to wrongfully convicted individuals, researching unreliable forensic methods, and running public education campaigns. The customer base comprises criminal defense attorneys, innocence organizations (Ohio Innocence Project, Innocence Project of Florida, Innocence Project of New York, Wisconsin Innocence Project, Northern California Innocence Project, Federal Defenders, Exoneration Project), and wrongfully convicted individuals.

CIFS is funded entirely by donations from individuals and foundations, with no fees charged for consultations unless significant time is required. The organization distributes services through direct attorney outreach, partner referrals, and public-facing amicus brief and training channels. It has no subsidiaries, no patent or technology assets, and no publicly disclosed funding rounds or institutional investors.

Name

Center for Integrity in Forensic Sciences

Legal name

Center for Integrity in Forensic Sciences

Website

https://cifsjustice.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2019

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Center for Integrity in Forensic Sciences is a Madison, WI-based non-profit legal advocacy organization that challenges unreliable forensic science in criminal cases through amicus briefs, attorney consultation, training, and direct representation of wrongfully convicted individuals.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Madison

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Donations and Grants: CIFS is a non-profit organization that operates entirely on donations from individuals and foundations. They do not charge for consultations unless significant time is required.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The Center for Integrity in Forensic Sciences (CIFS) is a non-profit legal advocacy organization that challenges unreliable forensic science in U.S. criminal proceedings. It offers free consultations to defense attorneys, files amicus briefs in state and federal courts, conducts attorney training (including the annual Forensic Justice Institute), provides direct representation in select post-conviction cases, and produces research and public education on faulty forensic methods.

Product overview

The Center for Integrity in Forensic Sciences (CIFS) is a non-profit legal advocacy organization that provides forensic science reform services rather than a traditional product. The organization offers a portfolio of legal services including: Amicus Brief Services (legal documents filed in courts on forensic science issues), Legal Consultation (free case consultations for attorneys), Attorney Training Programs (including the annual Forensic Justice Institute), Direct Client Representation (for select wrongful conviction cases), Forensic Science Research (documenting unreliable methods), and Public Education and Awareness campaigns. These services work together to challenge bad forensic science in the criminal legal system and promote wrongful conviction prevention.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Amicus Brief Services Legal advocacy documents filed in courts to provide additional context and research on forensic science issues, educating judges on unreliable forensic methods such as shaken baby syndrome, DNA analysis, firearm identification, and digital forensics.
• Legal Consultation Free consultations for attorneys with complex forensic science cases, assisting legal teams in assessing medical records and challenging faulty forensic evidence.
• Attorney Training Programs Training sessions for attorneys on forensic science topics, including the annual Forensic Justice Institute hosted with the State Bar of Wisconsin for continuing legal education credits.
• Direct Client Representation Occasional direct representation of clients wrongfully convicted based on faulty forensic science, working in partnership with Innocence Network organizations.
• Forensic Science Research Research on forensic injustice and unreliable forensic science methods, documenting wrongful convictions and identifying problematic forensic techniques.
• Public Education and Awareness Educational outreach through social media campaigns and content to raise awareness about bad science in the legal system and risks of unreliable forensic evidence.

Quantifiable outcome

• Reversed Odell Adams' conviction due to bad science of firearm and toolmark analysis
• +8 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Ohio Innocence ProjectcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCIFS partnered with Ohio Innocence Project on direct representation cases including Alan Butts, who was exonerated after 19 years in prison. Collaboration involves representing clients in post-conviction proceedings involving faulty forensic science.
• Innocence Project of FloridacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership on direct representation cases including Stephanie Spurgeon, who was released after 8 years in prison for a crime that never occurred.
• Innocence Project of New YorkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered with for direct representation of clients wrongfully convicted based on faulty forensic science.
• Wisconsin Innocence ProjectcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing partnership for representing clients and collaborating on cases involving forensic science issues.
• Northern California Innocence ProjectcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborates on direct representation cases involving faulty forensic science.
• Federal DefenderscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for representing clients in federal cases involving forensic science issues.
• Exoneration ProjectcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCurrently representing Jessica Logan in post-conviction proceedings. The Exoneration Project is a legal clinic that works to exonerate wrongfully convicted individuals.
• Forensic Justice ProjectmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-filed amicus briefs with Forensic Justice Project, including the Odell Adams case in Oregon Court of Appeals.
• Innocence NetworkmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCIFS is part of the Innocence Network and frequently co-files amicus briefs with them, including cases at the Supreme Court of the United States such as Areli Escobar.
• Southern Center for Human RightsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-filed amicus brief in Danyel Smith v. The State of Georgia case.
• Texas Court of Criminal AppealsminorOthersCIFS filed amicus brief in Robert Roberson's case arguing shaken baby syndrome is junk science and requesting habeas relief.
• National Coalition for Child Protection ReformminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered with NCCPR along with Center for Family Representation, Bronx Defenders, and Family Justice Resource Center for Lana Keegan case amicus brief.
• Boston College Innocence ProgramminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-filed amicus brief in Keith Winfield case with other innocence organizations.
• 41 Forensic Science ScholarsminorOthersCIFS participated in amicus brief signed by 41 other scholars of forensic science in Daniel Gissantaner's case regarding STRmix DNA analysis standards.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Direct peers

• Northwestern Center on Wrongful Convictions: Based at Northwestern Pritzker School of Law, this center investigates and litigates wrongful conviction cases with a focus on forensic science issues. It shares CIFS's scientific-legal advocacy model and produces amicus briefs and research on the validity of forensic evidence used in criminal trials.
• Mid-Atlantic Innocence Project: Located at the University of Virginia School of Law, the Mid-Atlantic Innocence Project investigates and litigates wrongful conviction cases and files amicus briefs on forensic science issues. It is comparable to CIFS in operating model, partner ecosystem, and case-type focus on faulty forensic evidence.
• Witness to Innocence: Witness to Innocence is a nonprofit led by death row exonerees that advocates for abolition of the death penalty and supports individuals released after wrongful capital convictions. It is comparable to CIFS in its mission-driven legal advocacy and reliance on exoneree partnerships and amicus-style interventions.
• Innocence Project: The Innocence Project is the foundational and most prominent U.S. organization working to exonerate wrongfully convicted individuals through DNA testing and litigation reform. Like CIFS, it files amicus briefs, provides consultation to defense attorneys, and partners with affiliated innocence organizations, though it focuses more broadly on DNA evidence and systemic reform rather than exclusively on forensic science validity.
• Innocence Network: The Innocence Network is the national affiliation of innocence organizations (including CIFS itself) that share resources, co-file amicus briefs, and coordinate on cases involving wrongful convictions. CIFS is a member and frequently collaborates with Network partners on Supreme Court-level briefs and policy advocacy.

Broad incumbents

• The Sentencing Project: The Sentencing Project is a national criminal justice policy and advocacy organization that files amicus briefs, conducts research, and influences legislation on wrongful conviction and sentencing reform. Comparable to CIFS in its research-driven legal advocacy model but broader in subject-matter scope.
• Equal Justice Initiative: The Equal Justice Initiative is a prominent nonprofit legal advocacy organization working to end mass incarceration and excessive punishment, with comparable amicus brief and litigation strategies. Though broader in scope, it parallels CIFS in using impact litigation and amicus briefs to challenge systemic injustice in the criminal legal system.
• National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (NACDL): NACDL is the largest U.S. bar association for criminal defense lawyers and files amicus briefs, provides training, and advocates on forensic science reform at the national level. While much broader in scope than CIFS, it is comparable in serving as a national advocacy and training resource for defense attorneys confronting forensic science issues.

Market position

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/center-for-integrity-in-forensic-sciences

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Center for Integrity in Forensic Sciences