Parental Prisoners: The Incarcerated Mother's Constitutional Right to Parent

Featured article by Emily Halter, CWC alum and Northwestern Pritzker School of Law 2018 graduate

"While some programs exist in the United States, for the most part, there are few avenues of support for incarcerated mothers. This Comment explores the possibilities currently available to incarcerated mothers, arguing that the Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution guarantees the right to parent and that right should be extended to incarcerated mothers."

Center on Wrongful Convictions Spring Symposium

Celebrating the Fifth Anniversary of the Women's Project

March 16, 2018, 1:00-4:45 P.M.

Northwestern Pritzker School of Law, Thorne Auditorium

Reception immediately following in Thorne Lobby 

Click here to register

Kerry Masterson Exonerated!

On November 2, 2017, Kerry Masterson was found not guilty after a second jury trial. Kerry was represented at her retrial by the Center on Wrongful Convictions and Neal Gerber Eisenberg. Read more about Kerry's case here.

Tyra Patterson granted parole!

Tyra Patterson may be home by Christmas. Due to the efforts of her many supporters, the Ohio Parole Board granted Ms. Patterson an early parole hearing in July 2017. News that she was granted parole came October 24, 2017. The Women's Project was honored to send a letter in support of Ms. Patterson to Govenor John Kasich in 2015. Congratulations, Tyra!

Podcasts featuring CWC exoneree Kristine Bunch

CWC exoneree Kristine Bunch is a tireless advocate for justice. In many different settings she has told the painful story of her wrongful conviction for the accidental death of her son - always with the objective of shedding light on the issues of false forensic science and serious flaws in the criminal justice system. Here are some recent podcasts featuring Kristine:

Everyday Law podcast

Actual Innocence podcast

Court Junkie podcast part I

Court Junkie podcast part II

Women's Project files amicus brief in Minnesota Supreme Court

The CWC Women's Project has filed an amicus brief in the Minnesota Supreme Court on behalf of Danna Back, a woman wrongfully convicted of second degree manslaughter. The actual perpetrator was an acquaintance of Ms. Back, and the high court overturned her conviction after holding she was not legally responsible for the perpetrator's actions. State prosecutors are nonetheless attempting to block her bid for compensation for the years she spent in prison. The Innocence Network has also filed an amicus brief in support of Ms. Back.

Amanda Knox tackles women and false confessions

We highly recommend this article by exoneree Amanda Knox, making the case for more research on how women experience interrogation tactics. The article quotes Women's Project Co-Director Judy Royal and cites an article by CWC attorneys Andrea Lewis and Sara Sommervold on the role of stereotypes in the wrongful conviction of women.

Amanda Knox: Why Do Innocent Women Confess to Crimes They Didn’t Commit?

Women's Project screens San Antonio Four documentary

On September 29, 2016, the Women's Project hosted a screening of Southwest of Salem: The Story of the San Antonio Four. The San Antonio Four are Kristie Mayhugh, Elizabeth Ramirez, Cassandra Rivera and Anna Vasquez, four Latina lesbians wrongfully convicted in 1997 sexually abusing two children. Their attorney, Mike Ware, began the program by discussing the recently passed Texas junk science law that helped free them. Following the film screening, these inspiring women discussed their experience and their continuing efforts to clear their names and answered questions from the audience. Facebook photo album

Women's Project Featured in Mother Jones Magazine

The attorneys of the Women’s Project, and Center on Wrongful Convictions client Kristine Bunch, are featured in an in-depth article by Molly Redden in the current issue of Mother Jones. The article discusses Kristine’s case, the reasons behind the formation of the Women’s Project, and some of the unique characteristics of Women’s Project cases.