The Exoneree Network

“Nobody can understand the struggle, the pain, the hurt like another exoneree.”
— Nat Cosenza, Exoneration #2129

About Us

While every release and reunion after years of wrongful incarceration is joyous, it is seldom easy. There is no existing infrastructure to assist an innocent person who spent decades in prison for a crime they did not commit. Therefore, exonerees returning from long-term incarceration back into the community must rebuild from almost nothing. No one understands this struggle better than people who have experienced it.

In 2020, to address this gap in support, three Massachusetts exonerees – Sean Ellis, Victor Rosario, and Ray Champagne, who collectively spent nearly 100 years in prison for crimes they did not commit – officially launched the Exoneree Network (EN).

This peer-led initiative funded by the New England Innocence Project, and in collaboration with the CPCS Innocence Program and the Boston College Innocence Program, supports, empowers, and activates community members who have suffered from wrongful convictions and long-term incarceration. Since its inception, the EN staff has grown to include a Social Services Advocate who is a family member of an exoneree, a Community Re-entry & Program Specialist who is a returning citizen, and an Operations Coordinator.  The EN has been and always will be led by the experiences, perspectives and voices of those directly impacted by the criminal legal system.

The Exoneree Network passionately cultivates a thriving and safe community for exonerees and those suffering the traumas of long-term incarceration. Dedicated to aiding their reintegration, we provide members with comprehensive support – from housing assistance and psychological care to financial literacy and technological training. We fight for legislative reforms that uplift, restore dignity, and instill hope along the journey to freedom.

For more information or to book a speaker for your event, please send us an e-mail at en@newenglandinnocence.org.

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Latest Updates from the EN

Exoneree Network
In the News

October 2, 2023 | WCVB: On Wrongful Conviction Day, exonerees push Massachusetts lawmakers to act
“Years lost, lives put on hold; all for crimes they didn’t commit. People who've been wrongfully convicted in Massachusetts leave prison with their freedom, but without any money or support from the state. Advocates want to change this, and spoke outside the State House before going inside to talk with lawmakers and make their case for changing the law.”

March 1, 2023 | Boston.gov: Returning Citizens Support Grant Awardees Announced
“$1 million in grants to be awarded to 35 nonprofits throughout the City of Boston providing services including family reunification, CORI sealing and expungement, transitional and permanent housing supports, and career and employment training.”

May 4, 2023 | WCVB: Proposed Mass. law would offer immediate assistance to those wrongfully convicted of crimes
“You can't just throw people out of a door after keeping them in prison for x amount of years because they were innocent, and just throw them out with nothing until compensation possibly comes through," exoneree Ray Champagne said.

August 10, 2022 | WGBH: Exonerees fill in the gaps to help others reentering society
“People who are wrongfully convicted face major challenges to reenter society, such as finding housing and work — and most endure them without help from the government. To help ease the reentry process, three men who spent decades in prison cofounded the Exonerees Network, funded through the New England Innocence Project.”

April 30, 2022 | The Boston Globe: As more wrongful convictions unravel, exonerees help one another adjust to life beyond bars
“The wrongly incarcerated gathered by the hundreds earlier this month at an Arizona resort for the Innocence Network’s first conference since 2019. The name-by-name introductions of the newcomers to this fellowship underscored the national momentum for vacating wrongful convictions: 111 people in attendance had recently been freed from prison, a tally much higher than conferences past, organizers said.”

Laptop & Smartphone Drive for Newly Freed People

Laptops and smartphones are essential technology for researching and applying for jobs, taking online courses and trainings, as well as staying connected with family and community members. The Exoneree Network needs your help in sourcing new or refurbished laptops and smartphones for newly freed people who are working to rebuild their lives in freedom.

If you have a business or vendor relationship, connection or lead on sourcing these vital items, please send us an e-mail at en@newenglandinnocence.org.

Meet the Exoneree Network Staff

Sean Ellis, Director
Exoneration #2364
Sean is the subject of the Netflix docu-series, Trial 4, released in November 2020. Arrested at the age of 19 for the murder of a police officer, Sean was wrongfully convicted at his third trial only after two juries could not reach a unanimous verdict. Sean was fully exonerated in 2021 after spending nearly 22 years in prison for a crime he did not commit. Significant police corruption and misconduct, including witness coercion, as well as misleading forensic evidence, led to Sean’s wrongful conviction. Sean is frequently invited to speak and spread awareness about wrongful convictions to high school students and members of the public throughout New England. Sean spoke at NEIP’s 2020 Voices of the Innocent: Power in Community virtual event after being an exoneree storyteller at the inaugural Voices of the Innocent: Still We Rise in 2019. Pronouns: he/him/his

Ray Champagne (In Memoriam), Co-Founder
Exoneration # 2653
Watch Ray’s Tribute Video
Ray was released in February 2020 and exonerated in July of the same year. He spent 45 years in prison after being wrongfully convicted of a murder he did not commit. Decades after Ray’s trial, he discovered witness statements that had been given to the police that would have demonstrated his innocence. These statements had never been disclosed to Ray or his defense team. While in prison, Ray devoted decades of service on the board of Prisoners’ Legal Services and volunteered with the Prison Library Project. Ray is one of the founders of the Exoneree Network and serves as the Network’s Research & Planning Coordinator. Ray was also an exoneree storyteller at NEIP’s 2020 Voices of the Innocent: Power in Community virtual event. Pronouns: he/him/his

Raymond Gaines, Peer Advocate
Raymond was wrongfully convicted and spent 46 years in prison for a crime he did not commit. While in prison, Raymond fought tirelessly to prove his innocence, filing countless appeals and writing letters to anyone who would listen.  With the help of attorney Merritt Schnipper, on April 28, 2021, Raymond was released from M.C.I. Norfolk on a Stay Of Execution of a natural life sentence. After nearly five decades behind the wall, he was released to a world that had changed beyond recognition. Despite the bitterness of losing so much of his life to wrongful imprisonment, Raymond refused to dwell on the past. Instead, he focused on rebuilding his life and becoming an advocate for criminal justice reform, using his own experience to shine a light on the flaws and injustices of the legal system. Through his resilience and determination, Raymond has become a symbol of hope and inspiration for countless others who have suffered similar injustices, including the innocent, wrongfully convicted, over-sentenced, and the medically frail. He finds healing in his role as Peer Advocate for the Exoneree Network where he researches and cultivates resources for EN Members, helping them adjust and rebuild after suffering the trauma of long-term incarceration. Pronouns: he/him/his

Sean Graham, Community Reentry & Program Specialist
Sean is dedicated to helping and empowering people returning home after wrongful convictions and long-term incarceration. His own experiences with the criminal legal system and long-term imprisonment have motivated him to become an advocate for others. He is committed to using his own struggles after release to inform how best to assist and support exonerees, as well as people who are freed but fighting, to rebuild their lives. Sean designs, implements, and facilitates programming that supports healing and provides resources to help every member of the Exoneree Network community to thrive. Pronouns: he/him/his

Carolina Nunes, Operations Administrator
Carolina, born and raised in Dorchester, has worked for various nonprofits in the Boston Area, from ensuring the safety of teens with behavioral and mental health diagnoses, accessing services for teen moms, assisting patients with a rare disease, and accessing therapy and working with individuals that have cognitive delays. She also has a background as a Family Law Legal Assistant. She looks forward to offering support to the NEIP team and clients. Pronouns: she/her/hers

Stephen Pina, Community Engagement Associate
Stephen’s story is one of resilience and determination. Wrongfully convicted in 1996, he spent 28 years in prison before new evidence led to his release in 2022. Since then, he has been actively involved in community engagement, supporting those who have been wrongfully convicted and speaking at universities about the trauma of wrongful convictions. Stephen's advocacy work includes mentoring inner-city youth, aiming to steer them away from the criminal legal system. Despite not yet being formally exonerated, he remains steadfast in his pursuit of justice, driven by the desire to clear his name for the sake of his family and loved ones. He is proud to be a part of the ongoing fight against wrongful convictions and to help others like him rebuild in freedom. Pronouns: he/him/his

Shar’Day Taylor, Social Service Advocate
Shar’Day is a licensed Social Worker and support person to her brother who was wrongfully convicted for a crime he did not commit. He was taken when she was 3 years old and sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. Shar’Day identifies this as being the motivation for her activism. Shar’Day has worked with families for over 10 years to assist them to identify and advocate for resources in their community. She looks forward to collaborating with exonerees to obtain resources and rebuild. Shar’Day is excited to work in partnership with both the Exoneree Network and NEIP to make a difference. Pronouns: she/her/hers