NC Center on Actual Innocence

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NC Center on Actual Innocence Identify, Investigate, and Advance Toward Truth in Justice All are indigent and unrepresented.

The Center oversees Innocence Projects® at North Carolina law schools and provides legal services to indigent, unrepresented North Carolina inmates claiming factual innocence. Each year, the Center receives innocence claims from over 500 inmates, two-thirds of whom are racial or ethnic minorities. Although wrongful conviction affects the impoverished and/or people of color more frequently, no one is exempt. The Center staff screens inmate questionnaires without regard to race, ethnicity, gender, age, sexual orientation, or socioeconomic status. Exonerating an innocent person does not negate the injustice of his or her incarceration. Indeed, the Center would rather ensure the reliability of convictions to prevent wrongful ones from happening at all. To that end, Center staff members participate in speaking and training opportunities throughout the year. These activities educate others about the Center’s work and about North Carolina’s leadership role in criminal justice reform.

On this day in 2012, Willie Grimes was declared innocent by a three-judge panel after spending nearly a quarter-century ...
10/05/2026

On this day in 2012, Willie Grimes was declared innocent by a three-judge panel after spending nearly a quarter-century in prison for crimes he did not commit. Despite years of incarceration, Willie never wavered in his innocence or his determination to be heard. His case is a powerful reminder of the devastating cost of wrongful convictions and the importance of continuing the fight for truth and justice.
Willie’s powerful story is featured in Ghost of the Innocent Man by Benjamin Rachlin. Visit nccai.org to learn more about his journey!
Happy Freedom-versary, Willie! We celebrate your freedom and honor your incredible resilience.

When we stand together, we can bring hope to those still waiting, strengthen the pursuit of justice, and help ensure tha...
10/02/2026

When we stand together, we can bring hope to those still waiting, strengthen the pursuit of justice, and help ensure that innocence is never overlooked. Join us. Share our mission. Support the fight for freedom.

On October 2nd, we observe International Wrongful Conviction Day - a global day of awareness, remembrance, and action. W...
10/02/2026

On October 2nd, we observe International Wrongful Conviction Day - a global day of awareness, remembrance, and action. Wrongful convictions are driven by systemic failures including eyewitness misidentification, false confessions, official misconduct, and flawed forensic practices, to name a few. They carry devastating consequences for innocent people, their loved ones, and entire communities.
Here, at the North Carolina Center on Actual Innocence, we work to provide free legal services to people who are wrongfully convicted, advocate for reforms that prevent future injustice, and support our clients as they rebuild their lives after exoneration.
International Wrongful Conviction Day is an opportunity to listen to the voices of freed and exonerated people, honor their resilience, and recommit to a justice system grounded in truth, accountability, and fairness.
Join us today and everyday as we raise awareness, stand with those impacted by wrongful convictions, and work toward a future where no innocent person loses years of their life to injustice. By learning more, sharing their stories, and supporting the work of NCCAI, you can help advance a more just and accountable system.
Visit www.nccai.org to learn how you can get involved!

On Brandon Jones’s birthday, we pause to celebrate his life and remember the strength he showed in the face of a devasta...
09/27/2026

On Brandon Jones’s birthday, we pause to celebrate his life and remember the strength he showed in the face of a devastating injustice.
Brandon and Leroy Spruill lost nearly 27 years to wrongful convictions stemming from a 1993 crime they did not commit. Throughout it all, they held fast to their innocence and refused to falsely accuse one another in exchange for a plea deal.
In 2018, after years of investigation, their cases advanced before an eight-member panel of the North Carolina Innocence Inquiry Commission, which unanimously found sufficient evidence of innocence to merit judicial review.
After a series of delays caused by the pandemic, Brandon and Leroy relented and accepted an Alford plea for time served so they could go home while maintaining their innocence. Brandon struggled with reentry and, burdened with the regret of not having his name cleared, on December 26, 2022, he died in a car accident which is believed, based on his correspondence, to have been a su***de.
He remains deeply missed by all of us at the Center. We honor Brandon today by continuing the fight for truth, justice, and freedom. Learn more at nccai.org. đź’—

Today, we’re pausing to appreciate the moments—and people—that make this work meaningful. We’re grateful for our clients...
09/21/2026

Today, we’re pausing to appreciate the moments—and people—that make this work meaningful.
We’re grateful for our clients, colleagues, supporters, and community as we continue pursuing truth and justice.
What are you grateful for today? Share in the comments. 💖🙏

Wishing everyone a safe and meaningful Labor Day!This Labor Day, we honor the people whose work strengthens our communit...
09/07/2026

Wishing everyone a safe and meaningful Labor Day!
This Labor Day, we honor the people whose work strengthens our communities—and we remain committed to the work of pursuing justice for those who have been wrongfully convicted. At the North Carolina Center on Actual Innocence, we believe every person deserves a fair chance to be heard. Today, we recognize the advocates, investigators, attorneys, supporters, and community members who help make that work possible.
Please head over to our website www.nccai.org to learn more about how you can help!

Happy National Read a Book Day! đź“š Looking for your next read? Explore these books that shed light on wrongful conviction...
09/06/2026

Happy National Read a Book Day! đź“š
Looking for your next read? Explore these books that shed light on wrongful convictions and the systemic issues within the criminal legal system.
Ghost of the Innocent Man by Benjamin Rachlin tells the powerful story of our exoneree Willie Grimes, who was released in 2012 after spending nearly 25 years in prison for a crime he did not commit. His story is both inspiring and a reminder of why this work matters. Read more at https://nccai.org/ghost-of-the-innocent-man/
Also, don't forget to visit www.nccai.org to learn more about our organization!

Happy Birthday to our client, Clifton Spencer! Cliff was wrongfully convicted of murder in 1991. Although attempts to p...
08/31/2026

Happy Birthday to our client, Clifton Spencer!

Cliff was wrongfully convicted of murder in 1991. Although attempts to prove his innocence have failed so far, we believe in him and will never stop trying to bring him justice. He was released on parole in 2007, in large part due to a letter of support from the then-District Attorney, but needs his name cleared.

Learn more about Cliff’s case by listening to season 2 of the CounterClock podcast or exploring our website www.nccai.org.

On this day 19 years ago, Dwayne Dail’s conviction was vacated. He was proven innocent after over 18 excruciating years ...
08/28/2026

On this day 19 years ago, Dwayne Dail’s conviction was vacated. He was proven innocent after over 18 excruciating years in prison for a r**e he did not commit.

Life behind bars for someone who commits a crime is undoubtedly difficult. Life behind bars for an innocent person is a tragic injustice few can comprehend.

Dwayne has been one of the Center’s biggest supporters since his release and is dedicated to paying it forward for others. We are proud and humbled to call him our friend and have him on our board.

Happy freedom-versary, Dwayne! We love you!

Today we celebrate our former client and dear friend, Happy 80th Birthday Willie Grimes! Willie’s story is one of true s...
08/23/2026

Today we celebrate our former client and dear friend, Happy 80th Birthday Willie Grimes!

Willie’s story is one of true strength and resilience. After being convicted in 1988 of a violent r**e he did not commit, he was sentenced to life in prison. In 2003, he contacted the Center asking for help in proving his innocence and obtaining his freedom. Years later, after we were told many times that all evidence had been destroyed, latent prints were located that not only exonerated Willie but identified the true perpetrator, who had assaulted other women as well.

In 2012, a three-judge panel declared Willie innocent, with the chair judge saying, “Free at last, free at last, thank God Almighty, thank Jehovah, Willie J. Grimes is free at last.”

In 2017, Willie’s story was told in the book “Ghost of the Innocent Man” by Benjamin Rachlin. Learn more at www.nccai.org!

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Durham, NC
27717

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Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm

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+19194893268

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