Working toward freedom with love for the people and communities we serve is more than I could have hoped for as a lawyer. While each of the 8 years I’ve worked at the New England Innocence Project has been significant to me, this year has truly been one of the most memorable.

Here are just some of the many ways we’ve made an impact in 2023:

In January, one of our clients, Brother Sabree, walked out of prison after nearly 50 years of incarceration. While we are still fighting to overturn his conviction, witnessing him experience freedom has been a truly precious gift.
In May, Nancy Wagner’s wrongful conviction was overturned after she had spent 30 years in prison for the accidental death of her beloved daughter. After she was finally free of this case, she married the love of her life.
In September, Tommy Rosa’s wrongful conviction was overturned based on new DNA evidence after he had spent 34 years in prison for a murder he did not commit. Tommy was my very first client at the New England Innocence Project, and seeing him reunited in freedom with his wife, Virginia, is incredibly moving.
In October, we filed a motion to overturn the wrongful conviction of Edward Wright, who has already spent 39 years in prison for a crime he did not commit. This was the first step in pursuing his freedom, one that was years in the making.
And all year, our New Hampshire staff attorneys have been fighting to get DNA testing so that Jason Carroll can finally demonstrate his innocence.

Of course, these moments of joy and hope came only after years of visiting people in prison, tracking down case files, investigating witnesses, testing evidence, consulting with experts, researching and writing, arguing in court, and so much more. Every second spent on these cases and every dollar invested in the service of our community is worth it in the fight for freedom for those who have been wrongfully convicted.

Moments like these are created by movements of people, all of whom are working together toward a common purpose. In 2024, we will celebrate the New England Innocence Project’s 20th anniversary — 20 years of building the movement; fighting for freedom alongside individuals, families, and communities; and pursuing meaningful change to the criminal legal system. I am honored to be in this movement for freedom with you. With you by our side, I know that we can commemorate this milestone with the strongest foundation to pursue justice in 2024 and beyond.

Thank you for being part of our community.

Most sincerely,

Radha Natarajan
Executive Director
New England Innocence Project