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Georgia Innocence Project Essentials

Georgia Innocence Project, along with co-counsel at Alston & Bird and the Mercer Habeas Project, filed an appeal to ask the Supreme Court of Georgia to review the habeas court’s denial of Erik Heard's petition. Erik has spent more than 17 years wrongfully incarcerated for a murder he did not commit. There is no set timeframe for the Supreme Court of Georgia to make a decision about whether they will hear the appeal. This initial decision can take a year, or longer, in most cases. Erik’s case is an example of the enormous amount of time and resources that can be required to free innocent people from wrongful convictions under Georgia’s current criminal legal system. Erik and his legal team are determined to continue the fight for his freedom. Read more about Erik's case at link in bio.

We’re thrilled to welcome two new members to Georgia Innocence Project's Board of Directors, Melissa Fox and Ashley Thompson! Melissa Fox is a Partner at Eversheds Sutherland. She is a solutions-oriented advisor, helping companies minimize risk and representing clients in class actions and commercial litigation. Melissa helps clients in emerging industries and those launching novel technologies navigate regulatory uncertainty and operate under evolving laws and regulations. Ashley Thompson is a strategic communications leader specializing in media relations, crisis communications, and reputation management. She currently serves as a Senior Lead Advisor in public relations for a national consumer brand, where she supports local and national media relations efforts and advises on communications during complex and high-profile situations. We are grateful for Melissa and Ashley's commitment to joining the fight against wrongful convictions in Georgia. Join us in welcoming Melissa and Ashley!

For over 20 years, Marquez Powell fought for his freedom. He wrote to Fulton County Conviction Integrity Unit to investigate his wrongful conviction. Through their investigation, they obtained newly discovered DNA test results that provided further support that Marquez was innocent. He was exonerated and released last month. Help him rebuild his life through his private GoFundMe at gofundme.com/f/support-marquez-powell. Gratitude to @janethowardstudio for capturing this momentous day.

To celebrate his Freedom Anniversary, Sonny Bharadia and Georgia Innocence Project staff went to Six Flags. “When I go do things like hiking, it might seem small. But those are dreams of mine that I’m fulfilling. You don't know how special that is to me. These are dreams I had in prison and guess what? Now I get to do it.” - Sonny Bharadia Read about Sonny's exoneration on our blog at link in bio.

We've moved! Georgia Innocence Project has a new home in the Georgia Bar Building at 104 Marietta St NW, Suite 440, Atlanta, GA 30303. Our new office is still under renovation, and we can't wait to welcome you once it's ready. In the meantime, mail is being forwarded from the Hurt Building, but please update your records with the new address so nothing gets lost along the way. More to come, including photos, once the dust settles.

ACTIVE CASE UPDATE: This spring, Georgia Innocence Project along with pro bono co-counsel Alston & Bird filed a habeas corpus petition based on a Brady violation, seeking to overturn Jimmy Pontoon's wrongful conviction. We are awaiting the court’s ruling. Jimmy Pontoon was wrongfully convicted in 1984 for a rape in Augusta, Georgia, that he did not commit. From the beginning, and now for more than 40 years, Jimmy has fought to prove his innocence. Read about his active case at link in bio.

Meet Sonny, Clarence, and John, our inaugural peer mentors. New this year, Georgia Innocence Project is piloting a Peer Mentorship Program led by freed community leaders, and these three just signed their contracts to make it official. The lived expertise of the freed community has shaped our priorities from the beginning. We regularly consult justice-impacted members on programming and decisions, from development campaigns to reentry services to policy advocacy. They were a driving force behind the landmark Wrongful Conviction and Incarceration Compensation Act that took effect in Georgia in 2025. You can support our reentry services through the Calvin C. Johnson, Jr. Memorial Fund. Learn more at the link in our bio.

At this year's NRI Stories event, Sonny Bharadia was presented with a painting of a phoenix rising from the ashes, a symbol of his story. NRI Pulse covered Sonny's journey after 8,393 days behind bars. We're grateful to the reporters and everyone who amplifies the voices of freed community members in the fight against wrongful incarceration.

The Calvin C. Johnson, Jr. Memorial Fund is the Rising in Community Excellence (RICE) Foundation's Non-Profit of the Year! What an inspiring and fun event celebrating those dedicated to serving the Atlanta community. Gratitude to Dr. C. Chandon Carter, Attorney Brian Poe, and all of the organizers. And thank you to everyone who voted, shared, and helped shine a light on Calvin's legacy and the Memorial Fund's work helping freed community members in Georgia rebuild their lives. This award belongs to all of you. We're so grateful. @riceawards #riceawards2026 Photo 1: Tara Johnson Burkett, Kristin Nelson Verrill, Judith C. Johnson Photo 2: RICE Non-Profit of The Year Award Photo 3: Judith, Dr. @icarter_lhd (Founder & CEO of RICE Awards Foundation), Tara Photo 4: Eric V. Hill, Judith, @attybrianpoe of @gainjuryattorneys (Chairman of the Board for the RICE Awards Foundation), Tara Photo 5: @vincethevoice, Judith, Eric, Tara Photo 6: The event was a “Sneaker Ball,” and Tara won a $500 prize for the Memorial Fund with her sneakers!

Sonny Bharadia, wrongfully incarcerated for over 22 years, recently spoke to undergraduate students in a Georgia State University course on wrongful convictions, co-taught by Christina Cribbs, our Litigation Director, and Mary Dayton, current co-counsel and former intern. We're lucky to work with such amazing people. Georgia Innocence Project could not do this life-changing work without the efforts of interns, volunteers, and supporters like you. Thank you!

Happy 22nd Freedom Anniversary, Clarence Harrison! On this day in 2004, Clarence was exonerated and freed from prison after serving 17 years for a crime he did not commit. Today, he continues to share his story in the community to advocate for others who are still wrongfully incarcerated. Here's a photo of his recent presentation at The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) at Emory. If you would like to hold a presentation at your organization, school, or community group, please visit link in bio.

Thank you to our amazing community for attending Georgia Innocence Project’s inaugural Sweet Freedom! What a joyful afternoon to be together, honoring Georgia’s freed community, and supporting the work to free innocent people in Georgia. Thanks to many generous supporters, we raised over $34,000 to support the continued work of correcting and preventing wrongful convictions in Georgia! We’re grateful to everyone who made this special event possible. Stay tuned for more photos in the coming weeks!

Through Georgia Innocence Project’s Reentry & Long-Term Support Services, members of the freed community like Jeffrey receive vital assistance to rebuild their lives. He began 2026 with a new job and a new place to live. Donate to provide essential services for members of the freed community in housing, job assistance, technology literacy, counseling, and more. Link in bio.

Shoutout to Atlanta Tech Bank, a new local nonprofit that refurbishes technology, for donating to Georgia Innocence Project! Through our Reentry and Long-term Support Services, technology will be shared with members of the freed community like Clifton to pursue their goals. If you'd like to learn about different ways you can support us, please visit link in bio.

Christina Cribbs (Litigation Director), Kristin Nelson Verrill (Executive Director), and Veronica O'Grady (Senior Attorney) attended, and offered comment at, the House Blue-Ribbon Study Committee on Criminal Post-Conviction Litigation session. This legislative panel is tasked with reviewing, and potentially changing, the criminal post-conviction appeals process in Georgia. Georgia Innocence Project is following closely to ensure that lawmakers have a clearer picture of how changes to the process could affect wrongful convictions.

The Innocence Network Conference in Chicago this past April was great! Innocence organizations and community members from around the world gathered to connect, share information, and learn. The freed individuals in attendance collectively lost over 6,832 years of their lives to wrongful conviction. We cried, we laughed, we left inspired to continue this important work with strengthened strategies, tools, and friendships. #InnocenceConference @innocencenetwork

July 19th marks Dennis Perry’s 5th Freedom Anniversary! Exonerated in 2021, Dennis lost 21 years to a wrongful conviction for a double murder he didn't commit. Today, he enjoys time with his wife Brenda and their extended family including five great grandkids. Learn more about his case at link in bio.

Christina Cribbs (Litigation Director), Kristin Nelson Verrill (Executive Director), and Veronica O’Grady (Senior Attorney) attended another House Blue-Ribbon Study Committee meeting on Criminal Post-Conviction Litigation. Comments from Georgia Innocence Project explained how making changes to the post-conviction legal landscape could lessen some of the burdens that our clients face when trying to get back into court to prove their innocence. Watch the video at youtube.com/watch?v=UAdeC4lPhrA.

Georgia Innocence Project's Sweet Freedom at The Solarium brought together an incredible community of supporters united by a shared belief that every person deserves a fair and just legal system. The outstanding turnout reflected a collective commitment to the Georgia Innocence Project's mission of freeing the wrongfully convicted. Every ticket purchased, sponsorship secured, and donation made helps us investigate wrongful conviction claims, advocate for those seeking justice, and advance meaningful reforms that strengthen the integrity of Georgia's criminal legal system. Thank you to our sponsors, volunteers, attendees, and everyone who helped make the afternoon such a success. Your generosity fuels this work. If you weren't able to join us, there's still an opportunity to make an impact. Every donation helps the Georgia Innocence Project continue fighting for freedom and fairness. Visit link in bio for more info. Gratitude to Tyrae of TCam Productions for capturing this fun day. @tcamproductions

After fighting his wrongful incarceration for nearly 21 years, Marquez Powell was finally fully exonerated and free on June 18, 2026! Marquez Powell was wrongfully convicted in 2008 for a murder in Atlanta, Georgia, that he did not commit. He was only 20 years old when the State alleged that he participated in a plan to rob his best friend who was fatally shot by someone else. We are elated to welcome Marquez into Georgia's community of innocent freed and exonerated people.

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After fighting his wrongful incarceration for nearly 21 years, Marquez Powell was finally fully exonerated and free on June 18, 2026!