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Artwork for For the Innocent: A Podcast About Wrongful Convictions, Legal Failures, Prison, True Crime, Forensic Science, and Criminal Ju

For the Innocent: A Podcast About Wrongful Convictions, Legal Failures, Prison, True Crime, Forensic Science, and Criminal Ju

Legal Talk Network
Wrongful Convictions
Wrongful Conviction
California Innocence Project
Criminal Justice System
Eyewitness Misidentification
Innocent People Pleading Guilty
Plea Deals
Shaken Baby Syndrome
Overcharging In Criminal Cases
War On Drugs
Criminal Justice Reform
Luis Vargas
Junk Science
Bite Mark Evidence
DNA Evidence
Angela Garcia
Public Defenders
Bloodstain Pattern Analysis
Forensic Science
Dark Pleas

Hosted by Michael Semanchik, For the Innocent exposes the shocking reality of wrongful convictions through raw, first-person stories from the exonerated. Season 3 returns September 9th featuring powerful accounts from Amanda Knox, JJ Velasquez, Bruce Lisker— three exonerees whose names have become synonymous with injustice— and more. Through their voices, uncover how the justice system failed them... more

PublishesTwice monthlyEpisodes32Founded3 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
True CrimeDocumentarySociety & Culture

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for For the Innocent: A Podcast About Wrongful Convictions, Legal Failures, Prison, True Crime, Forensic Science, and Criminal Ju

Latest Episodes

In 1998, a retired NYPD officer was shot and killed inside an illegal gambling parlor. Angry cops wanted speedy justice for one of their own, and an overzealous, incautious investigation ensued. A witness to the shooting with a criminal past was put ... more

At just 17 years old, Bruce Lisker was branded a murderer after being accused and convicted of the violent killing of his mother. He would go on to spend the next 26 years of his life in prison, until a federal judge finally overturned his conviction... more

In 1983, Bruce Lisker’s mother was violently attacked in their family home. After responding to his frantic 911 call, police quickly drew assumptions from the chaotic crime scene. Dorka Lisker was bludgeoned, stabbed several times, and near death in ... more

YouTube

To this day, some still believe Amanda Knox is guilty of the horrific murder of Meredith Kercher in 2007. However, this belief appears to stem entirely from the wildly sensational media coverage surrounding her supposed involvement. Thorough examinat... more

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Recent Guests

Bruce Lisker
Exoneree who spent over 26 years in prison for a crime he did not commit.
Episode: A Deceitful Detective & Manipulated Evidence – The Wrongful Conviction of Bruce Lisker
Martina Cagossi
Italian journalist, lawyer and advocate for the Italy Innocence Project
Italy Innocence Project
Episode: Breaking Down the Amanda Knox Case: Facts vs. Frenzy
Mark Olshaker
Renowned crime author and collaborator with FBI profiler John Douglas
Episode: Breaking Down the Amanda Knox Case: Facts vs. Frenzy
Amanda Knox
Wrongfully accused and imprisoned for four years for murder
Episode: Amanda Knox, JJ Velasquez, and More | For The Innocent Season 3 Trailer
JJ Velasquez
Exoneree who experienced 27 years of wrongful imprisonment
Episode: Amanda Knox, JJ Velasquez, and More | For The Innocent Season 3 Trailer
Raquel Barilla
Formerly a staff attorney at the California Innocence Project, worked on the Luis Vargas case
California Innocence Project
Episode: Evidence Preservation: Who’s Responsible and What Happens When It’s Lost or Destroyed
Alex Simpson
Associate director and resident expert for evidence preservation at the California Innocence Project
California Innocence Project
Episode: Evidence Preservation: Who’s Responsible and What Happens When It’s Lost or Destroyed
Alissa Bjerkhoel
Litigation Coordinator for the California Innocence Project
California Innocence Project
Episode: Evidence Preservation: Who’s Responsible and What Happens When It’s Lost or Destroyed
Luis Vargas
Exoneree and advocate for justice
Episode: The Luis Vargas Story: Misidentified as the “Teardrop Rapist”

Host

Michael Semanchik
Executive Director of the Innocence Center.

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 69 ratings
  • Listen NOWWW

    Wowwwww!!! You need to listen to this. Everybody needs to listen to this! I’m serious

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Brattonab
    United Statesa year ago
  • excellent

    great podcast! check it out! just wish the episodes were a touch longer! otherwise no complaints

    Audible
    5
    Edub
    United States2 years ago
  • Must listen.

    Engaging and enraging.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    TEPE97
    United States2 years ago
  • I LOVE THIS PODCAST

    A friend of mine sent it over.

    Huge fan of true crime podcast but I specifically like this one because it is spreading awareness of their stories of those who were falsely convicted!

    The production is INCREDIBLE. I’m really impressed by the audio & the story telling.

    Highly reccomednd!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Watched this Manifest
    United States3 years ago
  • Great Podcast!

    Mike does an amazing job of telling our clients stories through their own voices. Thanks Legal Talk Network for putting these stories out in the world!

    Audible
    5
    Justin Brooks
    United States3 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Many appreciate the depth of research and the informative nature of discussions with experts.
Listeners are calling for more awareness of social justice issues related to wrongful convictions.
Engaging storytelling and powerful real-life accounts resonate strongly with the audience.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#193
Argentina/Top Podcasts
Apple Podcasts
#7
Argentina/True Crime

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Zavion’s Story
Q: What were your thoughts as they were kind of diving into your case?
Zavion felt a glimmer of hope meeting the Innocence Project staff, indicating that it was a significant turning point in his case.
Zavion’s Story
Q: How scary was that?
Zavion expresses that it was extremely terrifying to be in prison surrounded by dangerous individuals, especially being so young and small.
Junk Science - Shaken Baby Syndrome
Q: Why did shaken baby syndrome gain such widespread acceptance in the medical field?
The theory gained acceptance due to early unproven hypotheses and circular reasoning in studies, which falsely identified injuries without considering other causative factors.
Junk Science - Shaken Baby Syndrome
Q: What is shaken baby syndrome, historically and scientifically?
It is historically a theory that violent shaking of infants causes certain brain injuries, but modern research shows these injuries can arise from various alternative causes, including accidental falls.
Marilyn’s Story: A Plea Deal Turned Deadly
Q: What was your experience when you first arrived at prison?
Marilyn described a warm welcome despite the circumstances, where staff showed kindness and support.

Audience Metrics

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Frequently Asked Questions About This Podcast

What is This Podcast about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Focusing on wrongful convictions, the content features gripping first-person accounts from exonerees who share their harrowing experiences with the justice system. Through in-depth discussions, it highlights systemic flaws including false confessions, eyewitness misidentifications, and issues with forensic science. Legal and criminal experts add further insight, dissecting the failures that lead to these miscarriages of justice. This podcast is particularly notable for its emotional storytelling and commitment to raising awareness about the realities of wrongful imprisonment, making it a compelling choice for listeners interested in true crime and social justice.

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Which podcasts are similar to this podcast?

These podcasts share a similar audience with this podcast:

1. Wrongful Conviction
2. Everything They Missed
3. Undisclosed: Toward Justice
4. DEVIANT
5. Bone Valley

How many episodes of this podcast are there?

this podcast launched 3 years ago and published 32 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on this podcast?

Recent guests on this podcast include:

1. Bruce Lisker
2. Martina Cagossi
3. Mark Olshaker
4. Amanda Knox
5. JJ Velasquez
6. Raquel Barilla
7. Alex Simpson
8. Alissa Bjerkhoel

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