First of Its Kind

In The Nation

Investigating Credible Post-Conviction
Claims of Actual Innocence

Claimants and/or Convicted Persons

Defendants; Persons who are claiming actual innocence.

Submit a Claim

Crime Victims & Their Families

Victims and family members of crimes where the defendant is seeking exoneration or has been exonerated.

Seek Assistance

Exonerees & Their Families

Persons who have been exonerated and their family members.

Seek Assistance

Independent & Balanced Truth Seeking

The North Carolina Innocence Inquiry Commission is a state agency established in 2006 by the General Assembly to investigate and evaluate post-conviction claims of factual innocence.

The Commission is charged with providing an independent and balanced truth-seeking forum for credible post-conviction claims of innocence in North Carolina.

The Commission is separate from the appeals process. A person exonerated through the Commission process is declared innocent and cannot be retried for the same crime.

In the News

“NC man exonerated in murder as Senate calls for end to innocence commission”

For the 16th time since a state innocence commission began reviewing cases in 2007, judges have exonerated someone the commission decided was wrongly convicted, according to a news release.

NC Senate wants to cut the state’s innocence commission. Its director now pleads with the House

North Carolina’s Innocence Inquiry Commission — a small state agency that investigates prison inmates’ claims that they were wrongfully convicted — would lose all funding under a budget proposal approved Wednesday by the North Carolina Senate.

Q&A: What is the N.C. Innocence Inquiry Commission? And why is it on the chopping block?

The N.C. Senate’s budget proposal, which passed its final vote Thursday, would eliminate the North Carolina Innocence Inquiry Commission. Its executive director is lobbying state lawmakers to keep funding it.

Three Judge Panel in State v. Clarence Roberts Votes Unanimously to Exonerate

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE | April 16, 2025 | The North Carolina Innocence Inquiry Commission wishes to announce the exoneration today of Mr. Clarence Roberts. On August 15-17, 2023, the North Carolina Innocence Inquiry Commission (NCIIC) held a hearing in State v. Clarence Roberts, 13 CRS 054359 (Robeson County).

Frequently Asked Questions

All of the following criteria must be met before an innocence claim may be investigated:

Conviction must have been in a North Carolina state court. N.C. G.S. 15A-1460(1).
Conviction must be for a felony. N.C. G.S. 15A-1460(1).
Applicant must be a living person. N.C. G.S. 15A-1460(1).
Applicant must be claiming complete factual innocence for any criminal responsibility for the crime. N.C. G.S. 15A-1460(1).
Credible evidence of innocence must exist. N.C. G.S. 15A-1460(1).
Verifiable evidence of innocence must exist. N.C. G.S. 15A-1460(1).
Claim must not have been previously heard at trial or in a post-conviction hearing. N.C. G.S. 15A-1460(1).
Applicant must sign agreement pursuant to § 15A-1467.

According to N.C. G.S. 15A-1467(a), a claim of factual innocence for any conviction may be referred to the Commission by any court, a State or local agency, or a claimant’s counsel. A claim of factual innocence for convictions for homicides, robberies, sex offenses requiring registration, or any other Class A through Class E felony may be made directly by the claimant.

Unless referred, the claimant must contact the Commission directly. A claimant’s friend or family member may not initiate a claim, however they may provide our contact information to the claimant and suggest he or she write to us and, if necessary the appropriate assistance will be provided.

Commission cases are confidential, and we are unable to provide information regarding claims filed with the Commission.

If you have been convicted of a felony in North Carolina and are claiming innocence, please either click here to use our “Submit a Claim” form or mail a letter to the Commission requesting a questionnaire. Please remember, you must be claiming complete factual innocence of the crime for which you are convicted and any lesser related crimes in order for the Commission to review your case.

If you are a court, state or local agency, defendant’s counsel, please either click here to use our “Submit a Claim” form or call or write the Commission to refer the case.

If you are a friend or family member, please provide our contact information to the claimant and suggest he or she write to us and, if necessary the appropriate assistance will be provided.

Commission cases are confidential, and we are unable to provide information regarding claims filed with the Commission.

The North Carolina Innocence Inquiry Commission was created by the legislature to investigate cases where new evidence of complete factual innocence has emerged since conviction. We cannot review sentencing, technical or procedural trial errors. If you believe there was an error in your trial or your sentence, please contact North Carolina Prisoner Legal Services at:

North Carolina Prisoner Legal Services, Inc. 
Post Office Box 25397 
Raleigh, North Carolina 27611

Case Progression Flowchart

Click here to download a PDF version of the Case Progression Flowchart.

Download Case Progression Flowchart

First of Its Kind

In The Nation

Investigating Credible Post-ConvictionClaims of Actual Innocence

Claimants and/or Convicted Persons

Crime Victims & Their Families

Exonerees & Their Families

Independent & Balanced Truth Seeking

The North Carolina Innocence Inquiry Commission is a state agency established in 2006 by the General Assembly to investigate and evaluate post-conviction claims of factual innocence.

The Commission is charged with providing an independent and balanced truth-seeking forum for credible post-conviction claims of innocence in North Carolina.

The Commission is separate from the appeals process. A person exonerated through the Commission process is declared innocent and cannot be retried for the same crime.

In the News

“NC man exonerated in murder as Senate calls for end to innocence commission”

For the 16th time since a state innocence commission began reviewing cases in 2007, judges have exonerated someone the commission decided was wrongly convicted, according to a news release.

NC Senate wants to cut the state’s innocence commission. Its director now pleads with the House

North Carolina’s Innocence Inquiry Commission — a small state agency that investigates prison inmates’ claims that they were wrongfully convicted — would lose all funding under a budget proposal approved Wednesday by the North Carolina Senate.

Q&A: What is the N.C. Innocence Inquiry Commission? And why is it on the chopping block?

The N.C. Senate’s budget proposal, which passed its final vote Thursday, would eliminate the North Carolina Innocence Inquiry Commission. Its executive director is lobbying state lawmakers to keep funding it.

Three Judge Panel in State v. Clarence Roberts Votes Unanimously to Exonerate

Frequently Asked Questions

Case Progression Flowchart

Click here to download a PDF version of the Case Progression Flowchart.

Investigating Credible Post-Conviction
Claims of Actual Innocence