Convocation: Robert McLaughlin

Robert McLaughlin served a seven year prison sentence for a 1979 murder he did not commit. He was convicted based solely on the testimony of a 15-year-old eyewitness, despite a complete lack of physical evidence and a solid alibi backed up by four others. McLaughlin is not alone in his exoneration following unjust imprisonment. Over 200 people, at least ten of whom were on death row, have been exonerated in recent years. Since his release, McLaughlin has been outspoken about his experience, and now serves on the board of the Innocence Project of Minnesota (IPMN) as an advocate for others who remain in prison following false conviction. IPMN provides investigative and legal assistance to inmates, promotes substantive legal reforms to prevent future wrongful convictions, and works to raise public awareness about the prevalence and causes of wrongful conviction.