Join Us to Mark Ten Years of Texas’s Groundbreaking “Junk Science Law”

Dear Supporters,

At Texas Defender Service, we know first-hand that our criminal-legal system makes mistakes. Wrongful convictions are not rare occurrences; they are endemic to our injustice system.

Studies estimate that about 4-6% of people who are incarcerated are innocent.  With almost two million people in our prisons and jails, that means that tens of thousands of incarcerated people were wrongfully convicted. Many of our clients have compelling claims of actual innocence. Their cases are filled with flawed DNA evidence, unreliable eyewitness testimony, and sloppy police work.

That’s why, ten years ago, Texas Defender Service and its coalition partners fought for the passage of a groundbreaking new-science statute in Texas. The law was the first in the United States to allow courts to reexamine convictions that relied on outdated and debunked scientific methods. The law inspired similar legislation across the country. The law was groundbreaking, yes; but it has also failed to live up to its initial promise. 

To mark the occasion, Texas Defender Service, the Innocence Project of Texas (IPTX), and the Texas Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty are presenting a virtual panel to discuss the law’s impact.

Join us via Zoom on Thursday, September 7th at 6:30pm CT.  The panel, moderated by IPTX executive director Mike Ware, includes Judge Elsa Alcala, exoneree and IPTX director of outreach Anna Vasquez, and attorney Gretchen Sween. 

RSVP here to get the Zoom link. We hope to see you there!

With gratitude,