Erie County District Attorney’s Office Conviction Integrity Unit

The Erie County District Attorney's Office Conviction Integrity Unit (CIU) is a unit whose mission is to review plausible allegations of wrongful conviction. The CIU's goal is to ensure that justice is achieved. A Conviction Integrity Unit reexamines past convictions with questions over the defendant's guilt or innocence. In addition to ensuring people are serving prison sentences for crimes they committed, these offices also identify areas where improvement is needed to avoid future mistakes. Submissions to the CIU must satisfy the intake standards. Firstly, the applicant must make a non-frivolous claim of actual innocence or claim some other exceptional circumstance. Credible evidence of innocence or other exceptional circumstance that can be evaluated must exist at the time of the application. Secondly, the applicant must consent to be interviewed by this office concerning the conviction. Lastly, the applicant must not have any direct appeals. To apply for review complete and submit the application and certification form on their website or contact them directly for more information. Please click here to learn more about what a Conviction Integrity Unit is.