Delaware prisoners who can prove they’re innocent have a new way to be exonerated.
Last week, Attorney General Matt Denn (D) created a new initiative that allows people who have been wrongly convicted of a crime a way to prove their innocence.
Denn says any prisoner who can show physical evidence that they didn’t commit a crime can apply for the Department of Justice to review their case.
“Whether it’s DNA evidence, phone records, documents that actually exonerates someone for a crime for which they’re currently serving time in prison – and in those cases we wouldn’t want someone to have to go through a formal judicial process,” he said.
New witness statements or recantations of old statements aren’t admissible and those who committed a crime, but plead to a different offense won’t be eligible to apply.
Former state Supreme Court Justice Henry DuPont Ridgely will oversee the applications.
After his review, a panel will issue a report to the attorney general who may then ask the court to re-open the case.
“We’re the Department of Justice and we’re interested in making sure justice is done and that involves making sure people who have committed crimes are sanctioned appropriately, but it also means making sure that if someone hasn’t committed a crime then they aren’t sanctioned," Denn said.