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.

Notice of Commissioner Meeting

Public Comment Meeting
Date: Tuesday, December 3, 2024
Time: 2:30PM-3:30PM EST
Location: Virtually via WebEx.

Learn More & Register

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.

Case Progression Flowchart

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

Download Case Progression Flowchart
Image