Presumption of Innocence 

Many worry that the presumption of innocence is in danger of becoming an “endangered species” in America. In his essay Innocent Until Proven Guilty: The Origin of a Legal Maxim, Kenneth Pennington referred to the current state of the presumption of innocence as “a notion, an assumption, with very little content.” And according to a CPI public opinion poll, 66.8% of respondents think the presumption of innocence is becoming lost in our nation’s legal system.

The CPI Presumption of Innocence Program seeks to:

1. Enhance public awareness about the importance of the presumption of innocence
2. Encourage policy changes that enhance the presumption of innocence
3. Promote scholarship and research on the presumption of innocence

The Program offers a number of resources:

• Cornerstone of Justice
• Causes of Erosion
• Strategies for Restoration
• Court Cases
• Scholarly Works
• Over-Criminalization
  • Resources
• Public Opinion Survey