Public Defender DERU Partners

Building Justice Through Digital Evidence

The Digital Innocence Initiative is the first national nonprofit dedicated to preventing and overturning wrongful convictions through digital evidence.
We equip public defenders, post-conviction advocates, and innocence organizations with the expertise, tools, and training needed to identify, interpret, and apply digital evidence effectively in their cases.

Our Mission

We are building a nationwide coalition of defense-oriented organizations committed to using digital evidence to strengthen justice and protect the innocent.

  • Expand access: Help public defenders integrate digital evidence into investigations, trials, and appeals.

  • Build capacity: Establish and support Digital Evidence Review Units (DERUs) across the country.

  • Set standards: Create a national baseline for digital evidence training and practice in public defense.

Our goal is to ensure that every defender has the tools, training, and expert support needed to challenge unreliable digital evidence and prevent wrongful convictions.

Explore Our DERU Partners

The interactive Partner Map below highlights our growing network of:

  • Public defender offices leading the way in digital evidence review

  • Innocence organizations using data to reopen and clear wrongful convictions

  • Justice reform partners collaborating to strengthen post-conviction review through digital forensics

👉 Find a partner near you
👉 See how DERUs are expanding nationwide 
👉 Learn how to join the coalition

Chautauqua County Public Defender's Office
Connecticut Public Defender Hartford G.A. #14
Hillsborough County Public Defender
Connecticut Public Defender - Milford G.A. #22
Genesee County Public Defender - Flint, MI
Tulare County Public Defender - CA
Pima County Public Defender - AZ
Hamilton County Public Defender - OH
District of Columbia Public Defender - Washington D.C.
Northwest Ohio Innocence Clinic
Rhode Island Public Defender
Office of the Boone County Public Defender
Connecticut Public Defender - Middletown J.D.
Yellowstone Public Defender
Connecticut Public Defender Services Complex Litigation Unit
Connecticut Public Defender Services Waterbury J.D. and G.A. #4
The Yeary Firm LLC
Lockyer Zaduk Zeeh
Harvard Law School
Wright Shagley & Lowery, P.C.
County of Mendocino, CA Public Defender
Los Angeles County Public Defender
New Haven CT Office of Federal Public Defender
Nelson Defense Group
Federal Public Defender’s Office for the Northern & Southern Districts of Iowa
Perry Grimaldi Attorney at Law
Law Offices of Laura Ann Muscari
East Baton Rouge Office of the Public Defender
Justin C. Pugh & Associates
County of Lancaster Public Defender's Office

Join the Movement

Partner with the Digital Innocence Initiative to:

  • Launch or strengthen a Digital Evidence Review Unit (DERU)

  • Access free technical guidance and training for your office

  • Collaborate with peers and experts nationwide

Together, we can make digital evidence a pathway to justice — not a barrier.