Keep Hope Alive

for the wrongly convicted innocent not yet exonerated (like myself)

TLDR

I sit on the cusp of creating something that other poor folks like me desperately need. But I need your support to get there. Before I slip back into homelessness.

Answering the Need

While working on a pioneering way to identify the wrongly convicted innocent, to ultimately exonerate them more quickly, I ran out of funds. You see, I am wrongly convicted myself and unable to get a job using my many degrees due to an unearned felony. I am not alone.

Facing the Problem

Consequently, I fell behind on rent and risk eviction. I had to cancel my auto insurance and now walk 1.7 miles to and from work each day. I am cutting costs left and write to keep hope alive for the wrongly convicted innocent.

Appreciating the Scope

I am not alone. Estimates of wrongful convictions suggest there could be as many as 120,000 innocent people in prison. I was discharged from prison for a crime that never occurred. I wasn't even there when it supposedly occurred. Such wrongful convictions happen far too often, and I have a vision to do something about it with the power of love. If I don't run out of money.

Covering the Costs

Each month, I pay around $100 from my business account to keep the website going. That includes backend services, like embedded forms with email automation to engage users. Until this vision gains some traction, I must use my personal funds. I don't want to shut this down because I must avoid homelessness, again. Nor end the podcast that promotes this vision.

Sustaining the Podcast

Today, while creating my next podcast episode to support this vision, I ran out of transcription minutes in the platform I use to create episodes. They suggest I upgrade to get more transcription minutes, but that's simply not an option now. Unless those who could benefit from this vision lend a helping hand, to help keep this vision alive.

Sharing the Vision

This vision unfolds in three stages to help the unexonerated innocent.

1. Estimated Innocence. By comparing their innocence claim to those already exonerated, this tool kicks out a score identifying the viability of their asserted innocence. Free.
2. Innocence Profiles. Once the user of the tool gets a high score, they can profile their innocence to attract public awareness and support. Free, but I do ask for a donation to help.
3. Public exoneration. Once the user attracts enough support, they can launch a campaign to inspire the authorities to support their exoneration. Free trial with crowdfunding to share costs.

I am just getting started with testing these options with real users. It might all end soon, if I get evicted. My back rent is $2300 right now.

Seeking some Traction

Another purpose served by this campaign is to help test if this vision accurately serves the wrongly convicted innocent, besides myself. Then I can invest your interest level when seeking a fiscal sponsor to fully execute this vision. Instead of starting my own nonprofit, I aim to work with one already serving the wrongly convicted. If I am not homeless by then, or too warn out from walking to and from work.

Giving your Feedback

If you have downloaded the Estimated Innocence Form prototype spreadsheet, please share your experience with it when donating. Use the optional message feature to provide me with some helpful feedback. I look forward to improving it with all the feedback I get from users like you. Or offer your feedback directly in my Facebook group: The Unexonerated.

Thank you

Thank you for your interest in keeping hope alive (or why would you have read this far into this appeal?)

Keep Hope Alive