Founded as the natural progression of a noble cause first envisioned in 2002 by human rights attorney Kurt Kerns in Wichita, Kansas, the International Innocence Initiative is a not-for-profit, 501(c)3 charitable organization that works to prevent wrongful convictions, free the innocent, and create fair, compassionate, and equitable systems of justice for everyone, especially underprivileged persons or those without means, facing an adverse criminal justice system foreign to them in every way. We are a not-for-profit whose charitable efforts are worldwide. Our Global Headquarters are located in Chicago, Illinois, at 33 N. Dearborn St., 10th Floor. We are located in the heart of Downtown Chicago’s Legal District, situated near the Illinois Supreme Court Building, headquarters of GOOGLE, the Daley Center Plaza (Cook County 1st Judicial Circuit Courthouse), as well as the Administrative offices of the City of Chicago and Cook County governments.
The International Innocence Initiative began as an aspirational goal of renowned American and International Defense Attorney, Kurt Kerns of Wichita, Kansas. Already successful as a Warrior Lawyer, and highly rated as a Super Lawyer (among other accolades in his chosen field of law), he set out to bring his vision of “Defending the Innocent, Around the World, Together” to fruition. He found success as an individual attorney, but the impact he could make as one person was limited. After years of planning and preparation, he found like-minded souls, aligning himself with them and convincing them to dedicate themselves to this worthy endeavor.
This team of partner lawyers set out to make this noble goal something more tangible, to fulfill its planned mission. The “International Innocence Initiative,” incorporated as a not-for-profit endeavor, is the manifestation of their vision, as experienced and well-known international lawyers who became fed up with witnessing injustices time and time again all over the world. Kurt, as the principal founder, and co-founders Van and Dragan have committed themselves to bring this aspirational dream to fruition. They truly believe that it is a fundamental duty to contribute to the pursuit of justice by “Defending the Innocent, Around the World, Together.”” Toward that end, they have accepted this ambitious enterprise and burden by agreeing to proudly volunteer their knowledge and experience for the benefit of the “Initiative” and to serve as initial directors of the not-for-profit “International Innocence Initiative” upon its corporate formation in 2022. Having set the lofty goal of providing legal help to those in need wherever they may be on the planet, this mission of the “International Innocence Initiative” requires a committed and strong team. A team that will grow and expand. A team as dedicated to the cause as its founders. Together, as a team, we can help ensure that anyone who needs legal aid, especially in a foreign jurisdiction or land, will have the access and means to attain it – through the work of the “International Innocence Initiative.”
The International Innocence initiative is the manifestation of the vision of several well-known international lawyers who became fed up with witnessing injustices time and time again all over the world. More often than one can imagine, innocent people find themselves accused in foreign jurisdictions (such as other states or foreign countries) without the means or resources to obtain qualified legal counsel to defend against the false accusations. These lead to prolonged detentions based, oftentimes, on the political interests of those in power, and at the expense of due process rights and human rights. The International Innocence Initiative was created to fill that void so wherever in the world someone is detained wrongfully – the innocence initiative stands in the gap to protect their rights.
The International Innocence Initiative was established to help people arrested outside their own country to defend their right to a fair trial. Every year, we aim to assist multiple persons and their families to navigate a foreign legal system by offering practical advice, including contacts of local lawyers; guidance on key issues encountered by people arrested abroad; basic information on different legal systems and local sources of support; and legal representation globally as needed. As a not-for-profit charity, we do not charge for any of the assistance that we provide.
We believe that respect for fundamental rights and the rule of law are the hallmarks of a just society and that the right to a fair trial is at the heart of this. Sadly, too many shocking cases of injustice demonstrate how, time and again, this most basic human right is being abused. We fight against injustice by ensuring that the right to a fair trial is respected in practice. Working with our clients and international networks, we also campaign for the strengthening of due process rights in criminal justice laws so that they are robustly enforced rather than being abused and/or diluted.
Therefore, the International Innocence Initiative has committed its mission to identify critical issues of underprivileged persons and those simply without the means to finance costly litigation, and navigate the complexities of a foreign legal system, when facing the criminal justice system and potential injustice in a foreign jurisdiction. The International Innocence Initiative also strives to ensure the criminal justice system is as accessible, efficient and effective as possible. International Innocence Initiative staff are guided by the following values as they work to fulfill this mission.
To view our charitable disclosures – https://innocenceinitiative.org/charitable-solicitation-disclosures
To find out more about the International Innocence Initiative, and potentially make a donation to our cause, please visit our website – https://innocenceinitiative.org
