As a former indigent capital defense investigator, Emily Bolton was appalled that more than 3,000 prisoners in Louisiana serving life without parole did not have the right to counsel. Without counsel, even the most compelling cry of innocence will never be heard outside the razor-wire fences of the prison. Emily decided to take action.

As an Equal Justice Works Fellow, she established Innocence Project New Orleans, the first of its kind in the Deep South.

Innocence Project New Orleans provides legal and investigative assistance to wrongfully convicted prisoners serving life sentences in Louisiana. By working with jailhouse lawyers at state penitentiaries to identify possibly wrongful conviction cases, Emily was able to conduct thorough investigations on behalf of her clients. Through her investigations, she unearthed new evidence that could be used to bring the case back to court.

Within the first nine months of her project, Emily received more than 100 applications. Though the project is currently limited to Louisiana, there are plans to expand the work to Mississippi.

Emily Bolton
2000 Equal Justice Works Fellow
Louisiana Crisis Assistance Center – Innocence Project New Orleans (IPNO), New Orleans, LA
Tulane University School of Law, 2000