| Mid-Atlantic Innocence Project

About This Form

Do not refresh the page. If you do, the form will send you back to the first page. Your progress will be saved but you will need to select the right page to return to.
Once you begin the form, you can choose to save your work by clicking the "Save and Continue Later" button. You will receive a link to access the form so you can complete portions of it and return to it at a later time.
You will be notified that you have reached the end of the form and you will have an opportunity to review the form before submitting it.
Once you submit the form, you cannot make any changes.

***WARNING: MAIP CASE FILES MAY CONTAIN GRAPHIC AND/OR DISTURBING IMAGES AND CRIME DESCRIPTIONS***

Please enter the email where you received the case assignment so we can track your progress and ensure your submission is marked as complete in our system.*

This field is hidden when viewing the form

Matter ID*

This field should be pre-populated before the screener accesses the form. If this field is not pre-populated, please contact your MAIP contact for further instructions.

This field is hidden when viewing the form

Volunteer ID*

Basic Client and Case Information

Client name*

Client date of birth*

If you cannot locate client date of birth, please enter 01/01/1900.

Client race/ethnicity*

In most cases, this will be the race reported by the police.

You selected "Other" for the client's race/ethnicity. Please describe the client's race/ethnicity.

Jurisdiction of conviction*

Date of Conviction*

When the client initially applied to MAIP, if they were incarcerated, in which facility were they housed?*

This information should be located in the screening questionnaire/application.

Prison identification number (use DOC ID)*

NOTE: If client was not incarcerated when they applied, enter N/A.

For clients incarcerated in Maryland, their prison identification number can be found here: Maryland Incarcerated Individual Locator

For clients incarcerated in Virginia, their prison identification number can be found here: Virginia Incarcerated Individual Locator

For clients convicted in DC or in federal custody, their prison identification number can be found here: Bureau of Prisons Incarcerated Individual Locator

Length of sentence*

Life +Years

Life without the possibility of parole

Life with the possibility of parole

Other

Client's total sentence (in years)*

Instructions: Please enter the total number of years as a numerical value for which the client was sentenced to incarceration (Example: 55). If the client was sentenced to life plus a certain number of years, enter Life + #years (Example: Life + 55). If the client was sentenced to life with or without the possibility of parole, enter LWOP.

Number of PRIOR convictions

INSTRUCTIONS: Please enter the number of PRIOR convictions the client had when they were convicted of the offense(s) for which they are claiming innocence. If unknown, leave this field blank.***NOTE: PLEASE DO NOT INCLUDE IN THE NUMBER THE OFFENSE(S) FOR WHICH THE CLIENT IS CLAIMING INNOCENCE.***

For clients convicted in Maryland, please use this site: Maryland Case Search

For clients incarcerated in Virginia, please use this site: Virginia Case Search

For clients convicted in DC, please use this site: DC Superior Court Case Search

PRIOR offenses*

INSTRUCTIONS: Please enter the offense(s) for which the client was previously convicted. If none, enter None. If unknown, enter Unknown. ***NOTE: PLEASE DO NOT INCLUDE OFFENSES RELATED TO THE CLIENT'S INNOCENCE CLAIM. INFORMATION ABOUT THOSE OFFENSES WILL BE COLLECTED IN SUBSEQUENT SECTIONS.***

Actors at Trial or Guilty Plea Proceedings

Please answer the following questions with respect to people who were involved in the client's trial or proceedings related to a guilty plea.

Please list the names of any attorneys who represented the client at trial or for a guilty plea.

Name of Attorney	Attorney Classification	Actions

There are no Defense Attorneys.

Please list the names of any prosecutors involved in the case and any potential evidence of misconduct.

Prosecutor's Name	Actions

There are no Prosecutors.

Please list the names of any judges involved in the case.

Judge's Name	Actions

There are no Judges.

Please list the names, department, roles, and potential evidence of misconduct for any police officers involved in the case.

If you do not know any of the information, please write "unknown".

Police Officer's Name	Department	Role	Actions

There are no Officers.

Please list any experts who testified in the case and what area of expertise testified about.

Name of Expert	Affiliation	Actions

There are no Experts.

Please list any witnesses related to the case. This includes both individuals who testified in the trial and those who might have witnessed the incident and provided information to police/prosecution but did not testify. Please also identify any potential incentives they might have had.

A "jailhouse snitch" is a person who was incarcerated in the same facility as the client and claim to have obtained information that inculpates the client (typically alleged statements made by the client about their involvement in the crime). A confidential informant (CI) provides information to police about criminal activity in exchange for a benefit, such as money or leniency in their own criminal case(s). The name of the CI typically will not appear in police reports but the government may be required to reveal the identity of the CI to the defense. An incentivized witness is a person who gained a benefit because they served as a witness for the prosecution (most common situation is a person whose own criminal charges were reduced or dismissed in exchange for providing information to the prosecution and/or appearing in court as a prosecution witness).

Name of Witness	Witness testified on behalf of:	Jailhouse Snitch/Confidential Informant	Actions

There are no Witnesses.

Offense Information (Other Offenses)

Was the client charged with or convicted of an offense that was not previously listed?*

Yes

No

If the client was convicted of any offenses not previously listed, please write in below the other type of offense(s) and please indicate the following for each offense.

MULTIPLE COUNTS: Whether the client was charged and/or convicted of multiple counts of the offense.

ATTEMPTED (offense): Whether the client was charged and/or convicted of attempt of the applicable offense (e.g., attempted 1st-degree murder).

PLEA AGREEMENT: Whether the client pleaded guilty, pleaded no contest, or entered an Alford plea.

NOLLE PROSEQUI: Whether the client was charged with the offense but the charged was "nol prossed" (dropped) by the prosecution.

Case File

Which of the following were available for your review? Check all that apply.*

You selected "Other". Please list any other documents reviewed that were not selected in the previous question.*

Click the plus (+) sign at the far right to add additional rows.

Incident Information

Date of Offense(s)*

NOTE: If the offense(s) took place over multiple days or occurred multiple times, please enter the earliest offense date.

Arrest date*

Please list the names of any potential alternate suspects, including why you are including them in this list.

Other potential suspects could be a person(s) identified by police. However, it may also be someone you think may be a suspect but was not identified as such by police. If there was another suspect(s) but their name is not known, please indicate that. If none, write None.

Name of Potential Alternate Suspect	Reason for Inclusion	Actions

There are no Potential Suspects.

Are any of the parties involved in the case (i.e., defendant, victim(s), informants, witnesses, etc.) alleged to have gang/crew involvement?*

Please note that gangs are often known as "crews" in Washington, DC.

Yes

No

Not enough information to assess

Which of the following people involved in the case are alleged to have gang/crew involvement (check all that apply).*

Defense Investigation

This section relates to the investigation of the case by the defense.

Defense Investigative Omissions

If it appears that there were investigative leads that the defense attorney should have followed but apparently did not, please indicate which investigative omissions appear to have occurred in this case.*

No apparent omissions

Witnesses not interviewed who should have been

Potential alternate suspect not investigated

Independent testing of evidence not conducted (e.g., DNA)

Alibi not investigated

Expert not consulted

Not enough information to assess

Other

You selected "Other". Please list any other investigative omissions not selected in the previous question.

If you have any additional comments on the weaknesses of the defense investigation, please describe them below. Please be concise.

Brady Violations

A Brady violation occurs when the government withholds information that is material to the determination of either guilt or punishment of a criminal defendant and is a violation of the right to due process (see Brady v. Maryland, 373 U.S. 83 (1963)). Looking for potential Brady violations involves reviewing the police and/or prosecution's file for evidence that may have been helpful to the defense (i.e., material to either guilt or degree of punishment) and does not appear to have been turned over to the defense.

While reviewing the case file, did you encounter any potential Brady violations?*

Yes

No

Unsure

Details of Potential Brady Violation(s)*

Please summarize any potential Brady violations. If you are unsure about whether there were any potential Brady violations, please explain why. Please include the following details:

Nature of the evidence

Location in the file

Why you think it was not disclosed

Inculpatory Evidence

Inculpatory evidence is testimony, circumstantial evidence, and/or physical evidence that points toward (suggests) the client's guilt.

ONLY for the types of inculpatory evidence PRESENT in the case, please indicate whether the evidence was or was not presented to the court (whether at trial or during the plea hearing).

If the evidence type DOES NOT APPLY in this case, PLEASE DO NOT SELECT ANY RADIO BUTTON.

Please DO NOT select "Not used against client" if the type of evidence WAS NOT COLLECTED OR DOES NOT APPEAR TO EXIST IN THE RECORD.
Please only use the "Selection made in error" button if you accidentally select a type of evidence that does not apply to the case.

NOTE: If there does not appear to be any inculpatory evidence in this case, please indicate "None" in the comments box provided below.

Defendant made inculpatory statements to people OTHER than the police

Used against client

Not used against client

Selection made in error

Defendant made inculpatory statement(s) to police

Used against client

Not used against client

Selection made in error

Confession

Used against client

Not used against client

Selection made in error

Phone communications (call/text log, content of text messages, recorded call, etc.)

Used against client

Not used against client

Selection made in error

Digital/technological evidence (internet search history, forensic examination of computer/tablet/digital media device)

Used against client

Not used against client

Selection made in error

Photos or videos of perpetrator at/near crime scene identified as defendant

Used against client

Not used against client

Selection made in error

Location data placing defendant at/near crime scene at time of incident (cell phone location, vehicle GPS, etc.)

Used against client

Not used against client

Selection made in error

Witness/victim of the crime identified defendant and testified

Used against client

Not used against client

Selection made in error

Witness testimony of confidential informant

Used against client

Not used against client

Selection made in error

Witness testimony of jailhouse snitch

Used against client

Not used against client

Selection made in error

Witness testimony of codefendant

Used against client

Not used against client

Selection made in error

Photographic lineup identification

Used against client

Not used against client

Selection made in error

"Show up" or live crime scene identification

Used against client

Not used against client

Selection made in error

Biological Evidence (DNA, fingerprints, blood, etc.)

Used against client

Not used against client

Selection made in error

Expert testimony and/or report linking weapon to defendant

Used against client

Not used against client

Selection made in error

Expert testimony and/or report matching DNA evidence to defendant

Used against client

Not used against client

Selection made in error

Expert testimony and/or report related to fiber analysis

Used against client

Not used against client

Selection made in error

Expert testimony and/or report related to hair analysis

Used against client

Not used against client

Selection made in error

Expert testimony and/or report related to fingerprint comparison

Used against client

Not used against client

Selection made in error

Expert testimony and/or report related to autopsy findings or medical examination

Used against client

Not used against client

Selection made in error

Defendant’s alleged motive for the crime

Used against client

Not used against client

Selection made in error

Recovered weapon connected to defendant

Used against client

Not used against client

Selection made in error

Vehicle involved, at/near crime scene connected to defendant (not limited to ownership)

Used against client

Not used against client

Selection made in error

Physical evidence connecting defendant to crime (clothing, property, injury to defendant, etc.)

Used against client

Not used against client

Selection made in error

Defendant found in possession of victim's property

Used against client

Not used against client

Selection made in error

Not enough information to assess inculpatory evidence

Not enough information

Please provide any comments you have about the inculpatory evidence in this case.

In your opinion, what is the strength of the evidence used to convict the client?*

Direct Appeal

Did the client file a direct appeal?*

Yes

No

Unknown

Which of the following issues were raised on direct appeal?*

Direct Appeal - Actors

Please identify the client's attorney(s) who provided representation for the direct appeal.

Name of Attorney	Attorney Classification	Actions

There are no Entries.

Please identify the additional prosecutors during direct appeal.

Please do not include any prosecutors who were involved at trial.

Prosecutor's Name	Potential Misconduct	Actions

There are no Entries.

Please list the names of any judges involved in direct appeal proceedings.

Judge's Name	Actions

There are no Entries.

Did the client file a post-conviction petition?*

Yes

No

Unknown

Which of the following issues were raised in the post-conviction petition(s)?*

NOTE: Our use of the term post-conviction petition does NOT include the direct appeal. Appellate issues should have been identified in the Direct Appeal Phase section.

Post-Conviction Prior to MAIP Involvement - Actors

Please answer the following questions about post-conviction proceedings, EXCLUDING any post-conviction litigation pursued by MAIP.

Please identify the defense attorney(s) who represented the client during post-conviction proceedings.

Name of Attorney	Attorney Classification	Actions

There are no Entries.

Please identify the prosecutors involved in post-conviction proceedings.

Please do not list any prosecutors present at the trial or direct appeal.

Prosecutor's Name	Potential Misconduct	Actions

There are no Entries.

Please list the names of any judges involved in post-conviction proceedings.

Judge's Name	Actions

There are no Entries.

Client's Claim of Innocence

If at any point after their trial or after their guilty plea the client indicated there was newly discovered evidence in their case, what type of new evidence did they claim?

Newly discovered evidence in the legal sense refers to a) information that was not known at the time of conviction and could not have been discovered through reasonable investigation and b) if known prior to conviction, is likely to have affected the outcome.

In your opinion, what is the strength of the client's claim of innocence?*

In your opinion, what is the strength of the evidence in support of the client's claim of innocence?*

In your opinion, how likely do you think it is that the client is actually innocent?*

Time Estimate

How many hours did you spend reviewing this case and completing the memo? If you worked as a team, please estimate the total hours spent reviewing the case and completing the memo. Example: 3 reviewers x 20 hours each = 60 total hours*

End of Form

This is the end of the form. If you would like to review your responses before submitting it, please do so now. Once you submit the form, you will not be able to make any changes. Once you are ready, please click SUBMIT. Thank you!

{all_fields}

MAIP Archival Data Collection

About This Form

Basic Client and Case Information

Actors at Trial or Guilty Plea Proceedings

Offense Information (Violent Offenses)

Offense Information (Violent Offenses)

Offense Information (Sex Offenses)

Offense Information (Sex Offenses)

Offense Information (Theft/Property Offenses)

Offense Information (Theft/Property Offenses)

Offense Information (Firearms Offenses)

Offense Information (Firearms Offenses)

Offense Information (Drug Offenses)

Offense Information (Drug Offenses)

Offense Information (Other Offenses)

Aggravating Factors and Client Characteristics

Case File

Incident Information

Investigative Leads

Defense Investigation

Defense Investigative Omissions

Brady Violations

Inculpatory Evidence

Exculpatory Evidence

Absent Evidence

Client's Conviction

Sentencing

Motion for a New Trial

Direct Appeal

Direct Appeal - Actors

Post-Conviction Prior to MAIP Involvement - Actors

Client's Claim of Innocence

Wrongful Conviction Contributors

MAIP's Involvement

MAIP's Case Outcome

Time Estimate

End of Form