FAQ

Answering Your Questions

How much do I need to know about law to volunteer?

You don't need to know anything about the law before getting started. Our training program will teach you everything you need to know to make an impact.

Is there a set minimum/maximum age to volunteer?

There is no set minimum or maximum age to volunteer with our organization. For volunteers below high school, we would like to obtain permission from parents, as many cases can contain murder, sexual assault, and other serious topics. For older volunteers, our mission is to empower youth. While there is no set age limit, you must fit within our mission to be a part of the organization.

What will I be doing when I volunteer?

As a new volunteer, you will be working with a team to evaluate a case. This will involve gathering and summarizing court documents, investigating leads, and contacting attorneys. Once the case is either rejected or passed on to an attorney, you and your team will move on to the next case.

I've graduated college. How can I get involved?

Our organization is focused on youth; however, we've recently begun to selectively accept adult volunteers who want to help us overturn wrongful convictions! We are a youth-led and youth-driven organization, so adult volunteers are ineligible for leadership positions. If you are an adult interested in helping our cause, feel free to reach out to us to discuss the possibility of joining us as an adult volunteer!

Do I need to volunteer in-person?

Our organization is grounded in online advocacy. We work with online scans of documents to summarize and investigate cases. All you need to join our organization is an Internet connection and a passion for freeing the innocent.

Are there in-person volunteer opportunities?

We've recently unveiled our new chapter program, empowering teams of students to lead in-person innocence work and examine local wrongful conviction cases. If you want to learn more about this program, email info@youthforinnocence.org.

Are we offering a summer internship?

Yes, we are! Applications will be available on our blog or social media. Our summer internship is remote, offering both high school and college students the opportunity to work 20 hours per week on casework and an initiative of their choice. If you want a more time-intensive program (due to school requirements or otherwise), please reach out to bijan@youthforinnocence.org.

How many hours per week do I need to commit as a volunteer?

Volunteers are expected to commit at least 2 to 5 hours per week. The training course, which you will complete before starting, takes around 3 to 4 hours.

How long does it take to be placed after completing the training program?

We currently have a backlog of available volunteers, so it may take several weeks to be placed on a team after completing training. Please know your completion does not go unnoticed! For questions about getting started, reach out to Angela Mathews at angela@youthforinnocence.org.

Can an incarcerated individual submit a case for review?

If you are incarcerated and believe you have been wrongfully convicted, you are welcome to reach out to us. We will do our best to connect you with the appropriate person on our team. You can email our intake team at intake@youthforinnocence.org or give us a call at 916-259-9560.