Ohio Innocence Project at Cincinnati Law

All donations received by the Ohio Innocence Project are tax-deductible. OIP is held within the University of Cincinnati Foundation’s 501(c)(3) not-for-profit corporation status and has the Internal Revenue Service identification number 31-0896555.

All donations received help pay for the costly work involved with the OIP’s mission. For example, it costs OIP $100 for a public record request or transcript; it costs $250 for three hours of private investigator time; and it costs $1,000 to conduct a DNA test on evidence.

Donation by Credit Card: foundation.uc.edu/OIP

Donation by Check

Make your check out to the UC Foundation with Ohio Innocence Project in the memo line. Checks can be mailed to the following address:

Attn: Mindy Roy
UC College of Law
PO Box 210040
Cincinnati, OH 45221

If you have questions about other ways to make a gift, please contact Mindy Roy at Mindy.Roy@uc.edu.

The OIP Review is an annual magazine covering OIP's efforts to fulfill its mission.

• OIP Review Ninth Edition -- Legacy of Freedom (20th Anniv. Edition)
  
• OIP Review Eigth Edition — Telling Their Stories
• OIP Review Seventh Edition — A Family Called Freedom
• OIP Review Sixth Edition — Convicting an Innocent Person Convicts a Family, Too
• OIP Review Fifth Edition — Adjusting to Prison with Art and Soul
• OIP Review Fourth Edition — Breaking the Chains: Exonerees Not Always as Free as Expected
• OIP Review Third Edition — OIP Stands Ready to Change the World

Each year, the Ohio Innocence Project at Cincinnati Law, which ranks among the most successful projects in the Innocence Network, selects a team of 20-25 law students, the majority of whom are in their second year, to serve as Fellows in either OIP’s legal clinic or in OIP’s policy, legislation and engagement division.

OIP Legal Fellows and staff spend many hours reading and writing letters and having telephone conversations with inmates about their cases. Prior to actively taking on a case, if not before, the OIP staff and Fellows will meet the imprisoned person to discuss the case, the plan for litigation and the expectations of the imprisoned person and the OIP in the case. 

OIP Policy Fellows and staff spend many hours researching legislation and advocating for or against bills in the Ohio General Assembly, the main legislative branch of government in Ohio.   Policy fellows work directly with state representatives, senators, and their staffs to promote reforms to Ohio’s laws in an effort to both prevent wrongful convictions from occurring, and remedy them when they do.  In addition, policy fellows take part in a wide range of professional training, community engagement, and campus-based education efforts around the state.

From May through August, all Fellows work 40 hours per week and receive a small stipend for their work. During the academic year, the Fellows work approximately 10 hours per week and receive class credit for their participation.

To apply to be an OIP fellow you must be an incoming admitted student to the College of Law or a current first-year student. 

Many people express interest in volunteering for OIP.  Unfortunately, legal and ethical standards typically prevent us from accepting volunteers.

OIP does provide internships to college students, however.   If you are admitted to a college or university, you can join our staff and students as an intern to help the wrongfully convicted.

Internships for college students are available in either OIP’s legal clinic or on OIP’s policy, legislation and engagement team.  Students can apply to both internship programs but must submit separate applications.

We are unable to provide funding for internships at OIP. 

OIP Legal Clinic Internships

To qualify for internships with the OIP’s Legal Clinic, you must meet the following criteria:

• enrolled in an accredited academic program (currently or will be enrolled)
• have access to reliable transportation
• ability to bring your own laptop is preferred
• self-motivated and able to work independently
• must be able to respect the confidential nature of the legal work conducted in our office (you will be required to sign a confidentiality agreement)
• commit to at least 10 hours of work per week.

The program runs from semester to semester based on the University of Cincinnati’s academic calendar. Each semester, you must re-apply to be considered but we make no guarantees you will be able to participate in the program for longer than one semester.

Interns working in OIP’s legal clinic are responsible for tasks that include:

• picking up and dropping off the incoming and outgoing mail
• filing, scanning and copying
• organizing files
• answering the phones
• general administrative support
• assist with special projects as needed
• assist with events as needed

To apply for an internship in OIP’s legal clinic, please send the following application materials to OIP’s senior legal assistant, Stephanie King, at kingsp@ucmail.uc.edu:

• resume;
• cover letter explaining why you are interested in our program;
• 2 references;
• if you are trying to receive credit for a class for this internship, please include the requirements and your advisor or program coordinator’s name and contact. information.

All applications will be reviewed and responded to by the manager of the internship program. If you qualify and we are interested in learning more about you, a phone interview will be scheduled.

Internships with OIP’s Policy, Legislation and Engagement Team

Interns working on OIP’s policy team are responsible for tasks that include:

• researching demographic, political, and legislative data;
• assisting the director of policy and engagement and policy fellows on education and advocacy efforts at the Ohio Statehouse and community and campus-based events;
• general administrative support;
• coordinating meetings with legislators, elected officials, professors, and OIP’s client care team;
• assisting with special projects, including community engagement, collegiate, and professional training programs;
• supporting the needs of clients freed through OIP’s work.

Interns supporting the OIP policy team must have their own laptop or tablet and are able to work remotely for a majority of their hours.

To apply for an internship on OIP’s policy, legislation, and engagement team, please send the following application materials to OIP’s director of policy and engagement, Pierce Reed, at pierce.reed@uc.edu:

• resume;
• cover letter explaining why you are interested in our program, the dates that you want to work, and the amount of hours that you want to work;
• two references;
• most recent academic transcript (unofficial transcripts are acceptable);
• if you are seeking an internship as a placement for academic credit and/or funding from a source outside of the University of Cincinnati, also provide contact information for that source.

Candidates selected for an interview will be offered the opportunity to interview in person, by phone, or through Zoom.