In 2002, Brian Banks was a 17-year-old high school football star with a promising future ahead of him. He was getting the attention of Division 1 teams at major universities and was on the brink of making his dreams come true. Unfortunately, his life took a tragic turn when he was knowingly and falsely accused of kidnapping and rape of a female classmate. Despite maintaining his innocence, the combination of poor legal counsel, lack of investigative work, and a broken justice system resulted in Banks spending over five years in prison for a crime he did not commit.

In this episode, Brian recounts the shocking experience of being falsely accused, losing his athletic prospects, and an ill-advised plea deal that hurt him way more than it helped.

DNA testing is the most powerful tool for freeing the innocent. But without evidence to test, it’s useless... leaving many wrongfully convicted people without hope. That’s why it’s critical to preserve every piece of evidence in your case. In this episode we talk with Alissa Bjerkhoel about her work in Uriah Courtney’s exoneration and how his freedom hung on a single article of clothing left in a box almost 10 years earlier. 

Stay tuned to hear about secondary transfers and why your DNA can be on objects you never touched. The case of Lukis Anderson should terrify all of us.

Alissa Leanne Bjerkhoel is the Litigation Coordinator at the California Innocence Project.

- Podcast Supported by Clio

Since its origins, DNA evidence has both convicted the guilty and exonerated the innocent. Despite its amazing abilities, this forensic science has not always been a slam dunk. In addition to reliability issues, its misapplication has led to the wrongful prosecution of the innocent around the country. 

Host Michael Semanchik interviews world-renowned experts John M. Butler and Deanna Lankford about the history of DNA evidence and its use in the criminal justice system. Hear what investigators learned over the years to correctly identify profiles detected at crime scenes. The results might surprise or scare you.

John M. Butler is the Special Assistant to the Director for Forensic Science at the National Institute of Standards and Technology.

Deanna Lankford is the Director of Forensic Casework at BODE Technology.

- Podcast Supported by Clio

Uriah Courtney was wrongfully convicted and sentenced to life for kidnapping and rape. Despite having a solid alibi, a series of coincidences and past drug offenses convinced law enforcement that they had their man. Although his case looked hopeless, there was one person who knew Uriah was innocent and refused to give up on him. After serving 8 years in prison, he would finally win his freedom. Tune in to hear Uriah’s Story, a real-life account told by the man who lived it. 

- Podcast Supported by Clio

Despite best intentions, our criminal justice system is not perfect. Innocent people are frequently accused, convicted, and sent to prison for crimes they didn’t commit. On this show, we explore how this happens by talking with real-life exonerees, famous attorneys who fight for freedom, and world-renowned experts. You’ll recognize many of our guests from prominent productions like Making a Murderer, The Staircase, and the Survivors Guide to Prison. You’ll hear from well-known exonerees like Amanda Knox and Brian Banks. 

Hosted by Michael Semanchik. Produced and written by Laurence Colletti. Audio engineering by Adam Lockwood. Music contributions by real-life exoneree William Michael Dillon.

- Podcast Supported by Clio