For Families
We at NCCAN believe that a prisoner’s family members and loved ones are incredibly valuable on the long road to proving a wrongful conviction. You can support both our investigation and the inmate by working with our team when appropriate.
See our resources for families here:
For Prisoners
NCCAN reviews wrongful conviction and innocence claims presented to us by prisoners or their loved ones.
If you contact us, we will review your application and case summary to determine if your case is an appropriate one for our organization.
If we decline your case, we will help guide you toward other resources.
If we do choose to pursue your case, then we will begin to build a team that includes other innocence organizations, attorneys; private investigators, and/or experts. We believe that a team approach is the best hope for a successful investigation and getting to the truth.
The innocence movement has limited resources and we choose to not duplicate services, so please let us know if you have applied elsewhere and what the status of that inquiry is.
Also, please inform us if you currently are working with a lawyer, investigator, or any experts.
Getting Started
Completing an Application for Assistance is the first step in the process. We’ve provided a PDF that you can download, print, and send to your inmate, who will then complete it and mail it to us at NCCAN. Instructions are included in the PDF, as well as a sample application for reference.
Working on an Innocence Case
There are many things to consider when working on an innocence case. We’ve provided some instruction in a PDF.
Release Form
In order for us to begin working with a prisoner, you must fill out a release form and return it to us. The form is provided in various formats or as an online form below:
ONLINE FORM (Google Docs format)