Innocence Project
The NCIP Course
The Northern California Innocence Project (NCIP)�is a law school clinical program providing a unique educational oppurtunity for law students�to �investigate possible wrongful convictions and represent imprisoned clients with viable claims of actual innocence. Supervised by experienced legal and forensic staff, NCIP law students evaluate innocence claims by reviewing case histories, appellate briefs, transcripts, medical records, and other documents. Students participate directly in the investigative process by interviewing prisoners, witnesses, crime lab personnel, law enforcement, defense attorneys and prosecutors to help prove claims of innocence.��Beyond investigating their cases and interviewing witnesses, NCIP students draft legal documents such as motions, declarations, briefs, legal memoranda and letters to attorneys, clients and others.�Students also attend and participate in court proceedings.� NCIP students must attend an intensive two day training session known as "NCIP Boot Camp" and attend classes twice weekly which focus on post-conviction law and issues relevant to wrongful conviction.� Class topics include federal and state habeas corpus procedures, post-conviction DNA testing laws, investigation techniques, witness interview strategies, and the science of DNA testing.� For every 50 hours of participation in the program including casework and�class attendance,�a student earns one unit. The first 3 units of academic credit earned at NCIP are graded. Any earned units above 3 are graded credit/no credit.