About
Our story
When innocence isn’t enough
Imagine someone you love is accused of a crime they didn’t commit. You know their character and their innocence, but the charges are terrifying, and the stakes couldn’t be higher. You might think that if they’re truly innocent, the justice system will protect them.
But that’s not always how it works. And every day they remain behind bars matters.
OUR MISSION
Tennessee Innocence Project frees innocent people through legal advocacy, strengthens the justice system through policy reform, supports re-entry, and educates the public to prevent wrongful convictions.
To achieve this mission, TIP focuses on four pillars:
- Legal representation: Fighting for the wrongfully convicted through rigorous, resource-intensive legal advocacy.
- Reentry support: Supporting exonerees in rebuilding full and meaningful lives after release.
- Educational outreach: Educating the public and legal community to prevent future wrongful convictions.
- Policy reform: Championing laws that strengthen the justice system so innocent people are never convicted in the first place.
Tennessee is closing the gap
Since 1989, Tennessee has seen only 41 exonerations in state court—a shockingly low number compared to similar states.
By contrast:
- North Carolina: 75+ exonerations
- Louisiana: 85+ exonerations
- Michigan: 180+ exonerations
- Illinois: 550+ exonerations
It’s not because Tennessee makes fewer mistakes. It’s because, until recently, it lacked the tools to correct them. Resources for post-conviction innocence claims are severely limited—and unlike at trial, where you’re innocent until proven guilty, the burden of proof falls entirely on the wrongfully convicted person.
These are significant obstacles. But Tennessee Innocence Project is built to overcome them. Since 2019, we’ve secured 10 exonerations—representing 25% of all exonerations in Tennessee’s history. And we’re just getting started.
As an attorney representing people after conviction, I knew how incredibly difficult it was to provide first-class legal representation without critical resources. The Tennessee Innocence Project is the only organization in the state of Tennessee that fills that void. Our secret sauce is our tenacity to review every document, chase every lead, and push for answers to critical questions.
Jessica Van Dyke Legal Director & Co-Founder
Our team
Our veteran litigators work with pro bono law firms, law schools, advocacy groups, Conviction Review Units, investigators, and experts across the state.
Jason Gichner
Executive Director
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Jessica Van Dyke
Legal Director & Co-Founder
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Adriana Gascoigne
Director of Development
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Connor Webber
Staff Attorney, Nashville Office
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Madison Lowery
Staff Attorney, Nashville Office
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Hayden MacMath
Operations Manager, Nashville Office
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Brenda Waybrant
Finance & Strategic Projects Manager, Nashville Office
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Riley Cunningham
Client Support Program Coordinator, Nashville Office
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Owen Gramley
Litigation Fellow, Memphis Office
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Maci Allred
Intake Fellow, Nashville Office
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Abi Morris
Donor Relations & Events Associate
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Board of Directors
Our board of directors brings deep experience in criminal law, post-conviction litigation, policy reform, nonprofit leadership, and the lived experience of exonerees.
Frank Loughlin
NASHVILLE, PRESIDENT
Stephanie Ditenhafer
NASHVILLE, VICE PRESIDENT
Joey Fuson
NASHVILLE, TREASURER
Yasmine Mukahal
NASHVILLE, SECRETARY
Liza Canale
NASHVILLE, fundraising chair, JOURNEY TO JUSTICE CO-CHAIR
Katherine Cigarran
NASHVILLE, Journey to justice co-chair
Amy Richards
NASHVILLE
Veda Ajamu
MEMPHIS
Raffaella Braun
Nashville
Mark Chalos
NASHVILLE
Isaac Conner
NASHVILLE
Jimmy Duckworth
MEMPHIS
Garry Ferraris
KNOXVILLE
Megan Hawk
LOUDON
Rev. Dr. Lillian Lammers
MEMPHIS
Roochita Mathur
NASHVILLE
Valerie Scott
MEMPHIS
Bhavesh Shah
NASHVILLE
Joyce Watkins
DECHERD, EXONEREE
Learn more about our work
See how we’re freeing innocent people and strengthening the justice system across Tennessee.
The difference is you
With the right support, wrongful convictions can be overturned, lives restored, and the system strengthened. Join us in making justice possible.