West Virginia Innocence Project
The West Virginia Innocence Project brings hope and justice to the unjustly imprisoned. We fight to free wrongfully convicted and incarcerated West Virginians while also tackling the root causes of injustice and pushing for systemic reform.
Real Cases. Real Impact. Real Hope.
Through the dedication of 4,500+ hours of legal work and 400+ intern volunteer hours, we’ve received 114 new requests for aid with 68 cases awaiting review, while 20 cases are undergoing representation or remain in active review. One client has been released on parole, pending wrongful conviction litigation. Affiliated with the national Innocence Network, our clinic serves a 100% West Virginia client base.
From the Director’s Desk
“Our WVIP students learn what it means to work for another human being and to bear their hope in their work. Beyond handling legal tasks, they learn the profound responsibility of advocating for their clients and are often visibly moved by their interactions. These experiences are what shapes a truly good lawyer. The clinic proudly supports our students’ legal growth as they pursue freedom for the wrongfully convicted while spreading hope and inspiration along the way.”
– Melissa Giggenbach
Meet Our Clients
Meet Tony.
At only 27 years of age, Tony Walton was wrongfully convicted of armed robbery in Mt. Hope, West Virginia, in 2012. Errors in the initial investigation led to an eyewitness misidentifying Mr. Walton as the perpetrator. That mistake, coupled with the use of flawed forensic techniques, inadequate trial counsel, and ineffective post-conviction legal representation, led to Tony spending a decade in prison and an additional year on parole.
Now, our clinic students are currently working to remove Tony’s criminal conviction and clear his name as he dedicates efforts to strengthening his relationship with his daughter emotionally and financially.
Current Clients
Meet our clients who have been wrongfully convicted, hear their stories, and follow their cases.
Student Insight
“Working in the WVIP Clinic was by far the most rewarding part of my law school experience. Having the opportunity to meet wrongfully convicted individuals like Tony Walton and help them seek justice reaffirmed my passion for criminal law and indigent defense work.
Madison Crane WVU College of Law Class of 2025
Your Support is Critical to Our Success
Help Provide Legal Aid
We are thankful for our partnership with the WVU College of Law and for the resources the college provides to empower our work.
To complement these resources, the clinic also raises funds to fulfill our mission of freeing the wrongfully convicted and preventing future injustices. These donations support our travel, court record access, forensic testing, expert analysis, and broader efforts to reform the justice system.
Visit give.wvu.edu or contact:
West Virginia Innocence Project Director
Melissa Giggenbach
Email: melissa.giggenbach@mail.wvu.edu Email: melissa.giggenbach.wvip@gmail.com Phone: 304-293-8286 Office: Room 263, WVU College of Law