Arizona Justice Project

The Arizona Justice Project was formed in 1998 by attorney Larry Hammond and the Arizona Attorneys for Criminal Justice.  We were the fifth innocence project formed in the United States.  There are now over 60 similar projects worldwide. 

Our mission is to seek justice for the innocent, the wrongfully imprisoned, and those who have suffered manifest injustice under Arizona's criminal justice system. 

Our case review is limited to those where a person has been convicted in the State of Arizona; they have exhausted all appeals, and are no longer entitled to counsel.  Our staff of nine is responsible for corresponding with all individuals seeking help, screening all cases, and overseeing all case assignments and litigation.

We are affiliated with the Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law at Arizona State University and the James E. Rogers College of Law at the University of Arizona through a clinical program offered to law students.  We also work with law student volunteers and interns from the Arizona Summit Law School and undergraduate and graduate students from ASU and colleges nationwide.  Arizona law firms continuously investigate and litigate cases on behalf of the Justice Project.

We are currently undergoing an investigation in 59 cases and 11 cases are in post-conviction relief proceedings or are being prepared for clemency proceedings before the Arizona Board of Executive Clemency.