First of Its Kind
In The Nation
Investigating Credible Post-ConvictionClaims 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