Wayne Braddy News Today

Lucas County Prosecutor Julia Bates is finalizing the structure and guidelines for the conviction integrity unit that reviews post-conviction claims of innocence.

A change in Ohio law increases the odds that Lucas County will have its first wrongful imprisonment designation.

The program's goal is to achieve exonerations in Lucas County, which is one of the few counties in Ohio without an exoneration since 1989

The Lucas County Prosecutor's Office admitted that key evidence in a murder trial was not released to the defendant’s lawyer. The defendant is seeking a new trial.

The support follows multiple WTOL 11 stories on the county's justice system. The commissioner says it will give hope to those wrongly convicted.

11 Investigates explored the realities of agreeing to a dark plea.

WTOL Lead Investigator Brian Dugger, photojournalist Eric Rerucha accept proclamation honoring investigations into Cedar Point, fire escrow and Guilty Without Proof.

More than 3,000 people have been exonerated since 1989, and many of them after work by CIUs.

The Judges for Justice group credits the community and WTOL's "Guilty without Proof" for the agreement that freed the men and call for a conviction integrity unit.

After the two men were released from prison this week, the subjects of WTOL 11 Investigates' Guilty Without Proof project will have to reintegrate to life outside.