Summary
Calvin Duncan was wrongfully convicted of murder in 1982 at age 19 and received a life sentence. While in prison, he studied law and became a jailhouse lawyer, helping many inmates with their cases. After 28 years, the Innocence Project aided in his exoneration, and he was released. Duncan later earned a law degree and currently leads a program to help incarcerated individuals access legal help.
Key Facts
- Calvin Duncan was arrested in 1982 for murder in New Orleans and sentenced to life in prison.
- The eyewitness testimony against him was unreliable, and his defense was minimal.
- In prison, Duncan studied law and became a jailhouse lawyer, aiding other inmates.
- Jailhouse lawyers are inmates who help others with legal issues when they can't hire a lawyer.
- Duncan worked on hundreds of cases, focusing on unfair trials and wrongful convictions.
- He donated plasma to afford public records crucial for case reviews.
- The Innocence Project helped him get his case reopened, leading to his release in 2011.
- Duncan was later exonerated and earned a college degree followed by a law degree.
- He founded the Light of Justice program to improve legal access for incarcerated individuals.
