Attorney General Kwame Raoul has announced the formation of a Conviction Integrity Unit (CIU) within the Attorney General’s office. This initiative marks Illinois' first statewide effort to assess the integrity of convictions across the state. The CIU will investigate claims of actual innocence and examine whether new evidence convincingly proves the innocence of individuals incarcerated for crimes they did not commit.
Raoul emphasized the collaborative nature of this initiative, stating, “Over the past five years, we have worked with state’s attorneys, appellate justices, the Department of Justice and others to establish a unit within my office that would solely focus on reviewing wrongful convictions, seeking relief when warranted and preventing the devastation caused when someone is wrongfully convicted.” He further noted that wrongful convictions harm lives, erode trust in the justice system, and allow true perpetrators to evade justice.
The CIU's mission is to independently review past convictions in collaboration with local state’s attorneys and law enforcement agencies. Its goal is to ensure justice by correcting any wrongful convictions in Illinois. Those eligible can petition for post-conviction review if they were convicted as adults by an Illinois state court for a forcible felony.
To qualify for a case review by the CIU, applicants must meet specific criteria: they must be currently incarcerated due to an Illinois state court conviction for which they claim actual innocence. "Actual innocence" implies no criminal responsibility in the offense charged and requires new credible evidence to support this claim. The crime must be a forcible felony involving significant physical force or violence resulting in great bodily harm. Additionally, cases cannot be under appeal or undergoing post-conviction reviews by a state's attorney.
Upon receiving applications, the CIU will screen them against eligibility criteria before conducting thorough investigations if accepted. Should there be substantial proof of actual innocence, indicating compelling evidence favoring exoneration, the CIU will collaborate with local state's attorneys to decide if pursuing relief aligns with justice interests.
The CIU aims to enhance justice through partnerships with state’s attorneys and law enforcement agencies while addressing official misconduct discovered during investigations. It also seeks to study causes behind wrongful convictions in Illinois as part of efforts to refine policies and bolster confidence in the criminal justice system.
Applications are accessible in English and Spanish at Illinois Department of Corrections facilities’ law libraries and via criminal defense attorneys. Further details about eligibility requirements are available at www.IllinoisAttorneyGeneral.gov.
A video from today’s press conference announcing this development can be found online.