Tennessee Innocence Project

We’re pleased to announce that Hayden MacMath has joined our Nashville office as our Office and Executive Support Coordinator! In this role, Hayden will offer essential support to our operations and finance team during an exciting time of growth at TIP. Growing up in Chicago and Atlanta, Hayden decided to pursue a degree in Social Work from Belmont University. During his education, Hayden became passionate about criminal justice reform through meaningful internships and insightful classes. Before TIP, he gained operations and management experience working for a large regional telecommunications company. He is an avid music lover, and in his free time enjoys playing the drums and spinning vinyl. Hayden is humbled to contribute to the important work of the Tennessee Innocence Project, combining his social work and management experience to help free the wrongfully convicted. Join us in congratulating Hayden on his new position!

The Tennessee Innocence Project would like to extend a special thank you to Vanderbilt University Law School, who has generously funded our Re-Entry Fellow position over the last year. This position, held by Madison Lowery, has made a tremendous impact by ensuring the success of our exonerees after their release from prison. Madison has connected our clients to essential dental and medical services, financial and mental health counseling, mentorship, and so much more.  As a valued member of our team, Madison is now stepping into a full-time staff attorney role with TIP! We are excited for her to continue her important work advocating for the rights of wrongfully convicted individuals across the state. 

Individual tickets are now on sale for our signature fundraiser, Journey to Justice, which will take place on Tuesday, December 3rd at Music City Center Nashville! There are many reasons to attend this exclusive evening (which features a multi-course meal, a live auction, special guests and more!), but the most important reason is this: Every dollar raised at this event helps us take on more cases, investigate new leads, and bring about more exonerations.    This year, join us on the Journey to Justice and stand with us in the fight for freedom and justice! Purchase your ticket today at https://lnkd.in/e_-eVpH4. 

Join us in celebrating our new Executive Director, Jason Gichner! With a proven track record and an unwavering commitment to justice, Jason is poised to elevate TIP to new heights. Listen to Jason’s video message to discover his vision for the Tennessee Innocence Project.

We’re excited to share significant news from the Tennessee Innocence Project! After five years of outstanding leadership, co-founder Jessica Van Dyke will transition into a new role as Legal Director.  We’re equally delighted to announce that Jason Gichner, a vital part of TIP’s leadership team since 2021, has been appointed as our new Executive Director. As we welcome both Jessica and Jason into their new roles, we are excited for the future of the Tennessee Innocence Project!  Learn more here: https://lnkd.in/gD6CWA6G

The Tennessee Innocence Project is excited to announce that Gabrielle Dalton has been hired as its new Donor Relations and Events Associate!  Gabrielle will be joining the Nashville office and will support TIP’s growing development initiatives.     Originally from Nashville, Gabrielle Dalton is a recent graduate of the University of Chicago, where she studied Public Policy and French. Through her academic journey, Gabrielle developed a strong passion for criminal justice reform policy and the intersection of criminal justice and housing policy. Gabrielle aspires to return to law school in the coming years to further explore criminal justice and policy in the United States.       Learn more about our staff at www.tninnocence.org/team.

Update: Ricky Lee Webb is FREE! Earlier this week, we shared the incredible news that Ricky’s wrongful convictions had been overturned. Today, after nearly 47 years behind bars for crimes he did not commit, Ricky Lee Webb has finally walked out of prison and is reunited with his family. Convicted in 1976, Ricky has spent nearly five decades fighting for his freedom. His resilience and unwavering belief in justice have carried him through unimaginable hardship, and today, we are overjoyed to say: Welcome home, Ricky!

🚨 Breaking News: Ricky Lee Webb's Conviction Overturned! 🚨 We are excited to announce that our client, Ricky Lee Webb, has had his wrongful conviction overturned. Convicted in 1976 for a rape and murder he did not commit, Ricky spent 46 years, 8 months, and 20 days behind bars, maintaining his innocence throughout. In 2021, Ricky entrusted the Tennessee Innocence Project to fight for his freedom. His legal team—Connor Webber, Quinn Carlson, and Jessica Van Dyke—worked tirelessly to overturn his wrongful conviction. We are proud to report that his convictions have now been overturned! On this Wrongful Conviction Day, we also honor other exonerees: Artis Whitehead, Joyce Watkins, Charlie Dunn, Shane Garrett, Wayne Burgess, and Claude Garrett, who collectively spent almost 147 years wrongfully imprisoned. Their stories highlight the urgent need for justice reform. There is still much work to be done. Many innocent people remain behind bars, and we will continue our relentless fight for their freedom. You can join us in this mission. Your support is vital in helping us prevent wrongful convictions and secure justice for those who have been wronged. Consider making a donation today to assist our efforts: https://lnkd.in/ecy37kyR

BIG ANNOUNCEMENT! 🎉 On Wednesday, October 2nd, the Tennessee Innocence Project (TIP) will stand alongside other innocence organizations worldwide to recognize Wrongful Conviction Day—a day dedicated to raising awareness about the innocence movement and the importance of uncovering the truth. In the days leading up to October 2nd, TIP will be highlighting the national efforts to combat wrongful convictions, along with the profound impact we’ve had on clients, exonerees, and communities here in Tennessee. This Wrongful Conviction Day, we invite you to honor the courage of the wrongfully convicted by helping us to reach our $5,000 goal. 100% of funds raised will be used to support the litigation of an active case. Together, we can bring justice and hope to those who need it most! Donate to our campaign today: https://lnkd.in/ecy37kyR

🚨 TICKETS NOW ON SALE! 🚨 Join the Tennessee Innocence Project on Tuesday, December 3rd at Music City Center for our signature Nashville fundraiser, Journey to Justice! Enjoy a three-course dinner, cocktail hour, silent auction, and hear from special guests. By attending, you're directly supporting our mission to fight wrongful convictions and free innocent people across Tennessee. Every dollar raised helps us take on more cases, investigate new leads, and bring about more exonerations. This is your chance to make a real difference. Be part of our #JourneyToJustice and stand with us in the fight for freedom and justice. Visit tninnocence.org/nashville for tickets and sponsorship opportunities.