Conviction Integrity Units
Government units tasked with reviewing old convictions for evidence of innocence, often focusing on cases where DNA or other evidence suggests wrongful imprisonment.
Specialized divisions within prosecutors' offices or law enforcement agencies dedicated to investigating and reviewing past criminal convictions for potential errors, misconduct, or exculpatory evidence. These units examine cases where new evidence—particularly DNA testing—or procedural flaws may indicate innocence, and work to overturn wrongful convictions through legal remedies.
What this means in real life
A conviction integrity unit might review a 20-year-old murder case where DNA technology now available could test evidence that wasn't testable at trial, potentially freeing someone imprisoned for a crime they didn't commit.
What it isn’t
These are not defense attorneys or innocence advocates working against prosecutors. They operate within the prosecutor's own office and serve the justice system's interest in accuracy, not as external watchdogs challenging convictions from outside.
Commonly misused online
Social media often portrays these units as aggressive innocence-fighting machines, when in reality their effectiveness depends entirely on whether the prosecutor's office prioritizes their work—many remain underfunded or inactive.
Based on 1 reference source, including government sources. Last verified July 16, 2026.