Witness to Innocence is comprised of former death row inmates who were cleared of all charges and now share their powerful stories with colleges, high schools, faith communities, legislatures, and other organizations. Our speakers have reached hundreds of thousands of people across the country and the globe

FAQ's

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Who should I contact to host a Witness to Innocence speaker at my event?

Please contact: Alison Walsh, Speaking Events Manager at or 484-352-3346. Or complete our Speaker Inquiry Form.

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Is a Witness to Innocence speaker a good fit for my event?

Witness to Innocence’s speakers have shared their personal stories with a range of audiences – from small community gatherings and student clubs to legislative hearings and international conferences. We welcome requests from any organization looking to for unique and compelling programming to add to their event.

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How much does it cost to book a Witness to Innocence speaker?

Because many exonerated death row survivors receive zero in compensation for their years lost due to wrongful conviction, 100% of our speaker fees go directly to the exoneree speakers. We collaborate with host organizations to set a budget that works for the host and ensures the speaker is paid appropriately.

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What is the speaker selection process?

Many of our speakers have been featured in books, films, television shows, and news programs. They have been keynote speakers at conferences and rallies. All of the death row exoneree speakers have a unique and powerful story to tell of being innocent on death row. We work with host organizations to find the right fit.

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Will a Witness to Innocence Speaker travel to an event in my home state or country?

Our speakers reside all over the United States and are available to travel to events across the country and the globe. Together with the host organization, we will make any needed travel arrangements, including flights, hotels, and rental cars.

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Past Speaking events hosts

Abolitionist Action Committee

Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences

ACLU of Kentucky

ACLU of Wyoming

ACLU of Southern California

Alvernia College

American Constitution Society

American University 

Amnesty International

Appalachian Law School

Arkansas Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty

Beaverdam Mennonite Church

Bennett College

Birmingham School of Law

Boone United Methodist Church

Bread & Roses Community Fund

Bryn Mawr School

Butler University

California People of Faith Working Against the Death Penalty

California State University, Fullerton

Campaign to End the Death Penalty

Canisius College

Carleton College

Central Washington University

Chapman University, Fowler School of Law

Chestnut Hill College's Institute for Forgiveness and Reconciliation 

Coloradans for Alternatives to the Death Penalty

Colorado Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty

Community of Sant'Egidio

Connecticut Network to Abolish the Death Penalty

Cornell University

Deer Park United Methodist Church

Delaware Repeal Project 

Delgado Community College

Denver Innocence Project

DePaul University

DePauw University

Diocese of St. Augustine

Dismas House of the Upper Cumberland

Dr. Phil Show

Drexel University Thomas R. Kline School of Law

DUI Defense Lawyers Association

Eastern State Penitentiary

Eastern University

Embrey Human Rights Program at Southern Methodist University

Equal Justice Initiative

Equal Justice USA

European Union

Faith in Public Life

Federal Bar Association    

First United Methodist Church of Redding

Flagstaff Arts & Leadership Academy

Florence-Lauderdale Public Library

Floridians Alternatives to the Death Penalty

Fresno Chapter 

George Mason University

Georgetown Right to Life

Germantown Mennonite Church

Gonzaga University

Goucher College

Grand Valley State University

Hesser College

HiHo Kids

Historic Jones Tabernacle African Methodist Episcopal Church

Hobart and William Smith Colleges

Human Rights Awareness of the Agape Center

Human Writes

Huston Tillotson University

I AM TROY DAVIS

Indiana Abolition Coalition

Indiana University

Indivisible Lambertville / New Hope

Innocence Network Conference

Innocence Project of Florida

Intelligence Squared

John Carroll Catholic High School

John Carroll High School

John W. Stormont Conference on South Texas

Justice 4 Jacksonville

Justice and Beyond

Kansas Coalition Against the Death Penalty

Kentucky Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty

Kutztown University

League of Women Voters

Lewis and Clark Law School American Civil Liberties Union

LifeLines

Louisiana State University

Lush Cosmetics

Lycoming College

Manchester Rotary

Marian University

Mercyhurst University

Messiah College

Midwestern Criminal Justice Association

Milton Academy

Montana Abolition Coalition

Moonstone Arts Center

Mosaic Law Congregation

NAACP

National Defender Investigator Association

Nebraska Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty 

Nebraskan Conservatives Concerned About the Death Penalty

Nebraskans Against the Death Penalty

Nebraskans for Alternatives to the Death Penalty

New Hampshire Coalition Against the Death Penalty

New Hampshire Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty

New Hampshire Legislative Study Commission

New Mexico Coalition to Repeal the Death Penalty

Ohioans to Stop Executions

Oklahoma Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty

Orange County Chapter of Death Penalty Focus

Oregonians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty

Parson School of Design   

Peace Coalition of Southern Illinois

Pennsylvanians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty

Philadelphia Campaign to End the Death Penalty 

Princeton University 

Prindle Institute for Ethics at DePauw University

Promise of Justice Initiative

Radford University

Rehumanize International

Retain a Just Nebraska

Rhodes College

Roanoke College

Rothaugen School

Rutgers University

Sacramento Call to Action

Saint Joseph's University

SBS Australia

School of Criminology and Criminal Justice at Florida Atlantic University

Scranton University

Shenandoah University

Siena College

Simpson United Methodist Church

South East Volusia Democrats

South Florida Consortium for Restorative Justice

Southern Center for Human Rights

Speak Easy

Spectrum News

St John's University

St Joseph’s University Magpie Service Learning Program

SUNY Oneonta

Tallahassee Citizens Against the Death Penalty

Temple Law National Lawyers Guild

Tennesseans for Alternatives to the Death Penalty

Tennessee Coalition Against State Killings

Tennessee Tech University

Texas Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty  

Texas Moratorium Network

Texas Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church

Fenn School

Penn State Harrisburg Criminal Justice Club

Tides Foundation

Tompkins Cortland Community College

Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of St. Augustine 

United Methodist Church of Merced

University College Cork School of Law

University of Akron

University of Arizona James E. Rogers College of Law

University of Arkansas Law School

University of California Irvine

University of Central Missouri

University of Colorado

University of Dayton School of Law

University of Minnesota Duluth

University of New Mexico

University of North Alabama

University of Pikeville

University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown

University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown

University of Richmond 

University of Turabo

University of Victoria

University of Wyoming College of Law

Virginians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty

Washington Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty

Widener Universty School of Law

World Coalition Against the Death Penalty 

Yale Law School

Zion Lutheran Church Olney