FSC Chapter of the Deskovic Foundation

10/11/2026

“I would never confess to something I didn’t do.”

Many people believe that—until they face an interrogation that pushes them to a breaking point.

Swipe through for three reasons innocent people can falsely confess.

Pictured above is Raymond Santana, a member of the Exonerated Five who was wrongfully convicted as a teenager in the 1989 Central Park jogger case and exonerated in 2002. His story shows how vulnerable young people can be under the pressure of interrogation.

Raymond is one of six exonerees featured in Robin Dahlberg’s photobook, Breaking Point: When the Criminal Justice System Fails, alongside our founder, Jeffrey Deskovic.

Through portraits, firsthand accounts, and interrogation records, Robin explores how false confessions happen—and the lives they upend.

All photographs in this carousel are from Breaking Point. Photography © Robin Dahlberg / Kehrer Verlag.

Read the latest coverage of Robin’s work:
https://bit.ly/robincoverage

Thank you, Robin, for helping bring these stories to a wider audience.

10/02/2026

What happens when the lawyer meant to defend you fails you?

Today, October 2, is International Wrongful Conviction Day. Yesterday, The Jeffrey Deskovic Foundation for Justice joined the St. John’s University community for “Beyond Police and Prosecutorial Misconduct: When Bad Lawyering Convicts the Innocent.”

Bad lawyering is a serious, too often underdiscussed contributor to wrongful conviction. Police and prosecutorial misconduct receive attention, but failures by defense attorneys deserve scrutiny, too. Failing to investigate, challenge unreliable evidence, or prepare an adequate defense can leave an innocent person’s freedom at stake.

Thank you to Foundation clients and exonerees Andre Brown and Eliseo DeLeon for attending and speaking alongside Jeffrey Deskovic. Their experiences underscored the importance of meaningful legal representation and accountability.

We’re grateful to Professor Marina Sorochinski, the participating professors and organizers, and everyone who joined us. Professor Sorochinski also thoughtfully ordered pizza for students and everyone in attendance after the presentation, creating time to connect and continue the conversation.

The students’ reflections were especially meaningful. One shared that the presentation reminded her why she wants to pursue law. Another, who grew up in Croton, remembered learning about Jeffrey’s story in high school and described the impact of seeing him present in person.

A former Foundation intern asked a thoughtful question that reflected her deep engagement. It was clear that her internship had been incredibly beneficial, further sparking her interest in wrongful conviction advocacy and her desire to keep learning.

These conversations help future advocates understand the responsibility of defending someone whose life and freedom are on the line.

Today, we honor exonerees and stand with those still waiting for justice. Support our work: deskovicfoundation.org/donate

07/16/2026

Why would an innocent child confess to a crime he did not commit?

In this video, photographer, author, and former civil-rights attorney Robin Dahlberg discusses interviewing Raymond Santana for her powerful new photobook, Breaking Point: When the Criminal Justice System Fails.

Raymond was just 14 years old when he was interrogated in connection with the Central Park jogger case. Robin describes him as an extraordinary storyteller who vividly recounts the intimidation he and his grandmother experienced, the language barriers that made an already frightening situation even more difficult, and the immense pressure placed upon a child inside an interrogation room.

His story is deeply personal, but it is not an isolated one.

Breaking Point combines portraits and firsthand testimony from six exonerees, including Raymond and Jeffrey Deskovic, to examine how coercive interrogation practices can push innocent people toward false confessions.

Jeffrey was also a teenager when he was manipulated into falsely confessing without fully understanding his rights. That experience is why he continues advocating for New York’s Youth Interrogation Act, which would require anyone age 17 or younger to consult with an attorney before waiving their rights and submitting to police questioning.

Children should not be expected to navigate intimidating interrogations, complicated legal language, and potentially life-altering decisions alone.

We are grateful that Robin is using this project not only to preserve these essential stories, but also to help advance the work of The Jeffrey Deskovic Foundation for Justice, with proceeds connected to the book supporting our efforts to free the wrongfully convicted and prevent future injustices.

What protections do you believe every child should have before being questioned by police?

10/25/2024

Come join us for a movie night! 🍿⭐️

Bring your friends and watch Frontline: The Confessions starting at 4pm on November 5th in B202!

🎬 synopsis: Why would four innocent men confess to a brutal crime they didn’t commit? FRONTLINE goes inside the saga of the Norfolk Four.

RSVP to reserve your seats in advanced! Hope to see you all there!

12/05/2022

To learn more or find out how you can help you can find use on ourYouTube channel or our website deskovicfoundation.org

11/30/2022

The Deskovic Foundation is dedicated to help exonerate people who have been wrongfully convicted. To find out what we do and how you can help check out our website or YouTube channel.

11/16/2022

☆ Intern Spotlight ☆

Get to know Josie Brown! She is one of our 2022 interns! Josie will be graduating in the Fall of ‘23 with a degree in Political Science as well as a minor in pre law. Josie hopes to attend law school after the completion of her undergraduate degree.

Here’s what she had to say about being a part of this foundation: “It’s given me more of the legal experience I’ve been looking for. Dealing with wrongful convictions and reading these stories just helped reassure me that law is really what I want to get into.”

11/07/2022

10/11/2022

‘s impactful statement on veterans on death row

10/04/2022

to learn more information see the National Registry of Exonerations.