The presumption of innocence is a legal principle that a person accused of a crime is considered innocent until proven guilty. It is a fundamental principle of the U.S. criminal legal system and part of procedural due process. The presumption of innocence places the burden of proof on the prosecution, which must prove each element of the crime beyond a reasonable doubt. This means that a prosecutor must present compelling evidence to the court and can presume guilt only once a charge has been proven.
We’re pleased to offer a free virtual webinar modeling a community of support and conversation with Anthony Ray Hinton, who was wrongfully convicted of a crime he did not commit. His story highlights the importance of honoring the presumption of innocence during the pretrial stage—and not just in theory but in policies, practices, and procedures. This webinar is on Tuesday, October 8, 2024, from 1 to 2:00 p.m. ET. You may register at any point before the webinar begins.
About the Training
Anthony Ray Hinton spent 30 years of his life in prison for a crime he did not commit. He served one of longest sentences on death row in Alabama history. Attorney Bryan Stevenson, founder and executive director of the Equal Justice Initiative, said, “Race, poverty, inadequate legal assistance, and prosecutorial indifference to innocence conspired to create a textbook example of injustice. I can’t think of a case that more urgently dramatizes the need for reform than what has happened to Anthony Ray Hinton.”
Learning Objectives
By the end of the training, participants will:
- Appreciate Anthony Ray Hinton’s journey from his personal perspective
- Understand why the criminal legal system should uphold the presumption of innocence in pretrial policies, practices, and procedures
- Hear suggestions about how to apply procedural justice throughout the pretrial stage of a case
- Be familiar with APPR resources and the APPR Community
Discussion Moderator
The moderator for this session has many years of experience in pretrial justice and the broader criminal legal system.
Dr. Kelvin L. Banks, associate director at the Center for Effective Public Policy
Dr. Banks has over 20 years of experience in the justice system, with about 10 years in pretrial justice. He was previously the director for Harris County Pretrial Services and the Third Circuit Court of Michigan’s Pretrial Services.
Guest Faculty
Anthony Ray Hinton, exonerated person, Equal Justice Initiative
Mr. Hinton spent nearly 30 years on death row for a crime he did not commit. He walked out of the Jefferson County Jail as a free man on April 3, 2015. “The sun does shine,” he said as family and friends embraced him. His memoir, The Sun Does Shine: How I Found Life and Freedom on Death Row, is a New York Times bestseller.
Registration
If you are interested in participating in the webinar, please register online.
Please direct any questions to Samuel Steed, operations assistant at the Center for Effective Public Policy, at ssteed@cepp.com.