YOUTH FOR INNOCENCE (Canada)
OUR STORY
Dedication and Service
It is incredible how one small idea can grow into something truly special. In 2020, a few students gathered under one mentor to help overturn wrongful convictions. After extensively working on multiple cases, we were moved by the lack of justice these people were getting. We quickly realized that other students would want to help innocent people currently in jail, so we started Youth for Innocence, a youth-led and youth-driven group dedicated to overturning wrongful convictions.
Youth for Innocence is rooted in the belief that the new generation can accomplish great things.
Through our education initiative, we attempt to teach our youth and the wider world on wrongful convictions and the path to exoneration. We host seminars featuring prominent people involved in this uphill battle for justice. We use both social media and our blog to break down wrongful convictions and discuss new areas of research within the field.
Through our volunteering, we give students first-hand experience with criminal law, aid lawyers in investigating the thousands of letters they receive from prisoners claiming innocence, and take the first step for prisoners to achieve their exoneration. In our initial training program, we teach student volunteers to evaluate cases, examine new evidence, and assist pro bono lawyers with RT notes and summaries of cases. These student volunteers employ these skills to intake, summarize, and investigate cases of potential wrongful convictions.
2025 has been a breakthrough year for Youth for Innocence. We've grown from a few volunteers to a team of over 200 volunteers spanning across the globe, including countries such as Brazil, China, United Kingdom, United Arab Emirates, and many more. In the United-States we've handed off our first cases to attorneys, who are now preparing them for exoneration.
We also expanded into Canada as a registered non=profit and are currently assisting Miscarriages of Justice in their case reviews. Dozen's of chapters have been established across Canada and the U.S., Youth for Innocence continues to empower more people to help overturn wrongful convictions with better tools and training.
If you want to learn more about how you can start your journey at Youth for Innocence (CA), click here.
Disclaimer: we are not lawyers and therefore not able to give legal advice.
MEET OUR TEAM
The Faces of Our Organization
BIJAN TAHERI
Founder & Executive Director
_edited_edited.jpg)
MARGARET SALGUERO
Chief of Outreach
MIAH SLATER
Director of YFI CA
ISABELLA D'ALESIO
Chief of Finance
EMILY JOSE
Chief of Post-Conviction Work
NOELLA KIDIMBU
Chief of Marketing
Our Partners
We are proud to fight for the exoneration of wrongfully convicted individuals alongside outstanding organizations.
.png)
As a recent development, Miscarriages of Justice Canada has officially entered into collaboration with Youth for Innocence (CA). Miscarriages of Justice Canada is a national non-profit organization composed of lawyers and pro-bono law students dedicated to reviewing claims of wrongful conviction across the country.
In line with this commitment, they have collaborated with YFI (CA) to allow our undergraduate volunteers to assist in packaging cases under their supervision. This marks the first time Canadian undergraduate students have the opportunity to contribute directly to active Canadian innocence reviews.
If you would like a case to be considered, please review Miscarriages of Justice Canada's website here.