The Jeffrey Deskovic Foundation for Justice
The Jeffrey Deskovic Foundation For Justice came into being for the purpose of furthering Jeff’s commitment to the prevention and eradication of wrongful convictions, as the result of his own brutal treatment at age 16 by rogue police, prosecutors, and other law enforcement personnel. He was knowingly and maliciously accused, prosecuted and convicted of the rape and murder of a 15-year-old girl, despite the fact that authorities knew his DNA did not match that of the actual perpetrator. That individual, having been left free, as a result, went on to murder another young woman 3 ½ years later.
Deskovic emerged at 33, having been exonerated by further, more sophisticated DNA testing that in fact identified the actual perpetrator. Jeff walked out of prison, a free man with a self imposed mission going forward to do everything in his power to prevent what happened to him from happening to others. He decided he would work to prevent wrongful convictions, and for the exoneration of those who had already suffered his fate, collaboratively with government and private agencies. In furtherance of that mission, the Foundation is charged with a four-pronged mandate:
- The dissemination of information about wrongful convictions for the purpose of raising public awareness;
- Advocating for the passage of legislation designed to prevent wrongful convictions;
- Actively working to bring about exoneration of wrongfully convicted individuals both in DNA and Non-DNA cases;
- Aiding and enabling reintegration of exonerated persons into free society