Pro Se Online Application for Review

Please complete this form in its entirety and submit to our office for review of your conviction. Be sure to include copies of any documents that support your application/claims. Do not send original documents.

Where applicant, you or your is indicated, the information needs to be about the person seeking to have a conviction reviewed by our office. If the person completing this application is not the convicted person, please indicate that and complete the section.

The Conviction Integrity Section (CIS) only accepts cases for review where the following apply:

You must have been convicted of a felony in a county in the COMMONWEALTH of PENNSYLVANIA except Philadelphia. Please visit www.phila.gov, or Conviction Integrity Unit, Philadelphia’s District Attorney’s Office, 3 South Penn Square, Philadelphia, PA 19107-3499.
You must present a credible claim of actual innocence (for instance, you did not commit or participate in the crime charged).
The claim must be supported by information or evidence not previously part of your original trial or guilty plea.
You must still be incarcerated on the conviction in question.

Please keep in mind the following. The CIS is not reviewing lawful sentences. The CIS is not reviewing affirmative defenses, claims, or evidence that was previously considered by and presented to the original finder of fact (jury or judge). For example, we will not review cases of self-defense, or consent versus rape.

Please check “yes” or “no” for each question:

Are you a U.S. Citizen?

Yes
No

Is English your primary language?

Yes
No

What language do you normally speak?

Is someone reading this form to you?

Yes
No

Is someone writing on this form for you?

Yes
No

Are you still incarcerated?

Yes
No

Initial each statement below to show your understanding and agreement with the following:

Statement 1 Applicant Initials *

Requesting review of your case by our office will not toll the time you have to pursue post-conviction remedies, such as filing an appeal or post-conviction motion. You need to pursue those remedies separately.

Statement 2 Applicant Initials *

Acknowledgment of receipt of the Commonwealth does not indicate acceptance of the case for investigation, nor an acceptance of the claim of innocence.

Statement 3 Applicant Initials *

The CIS is a program in the Pennsylvania Office of the Attorney General. The CIS attorneys are not defense attorneys, do not represent me and do not provide legal advice.

Statement 4 Applicant Initials *

I understand I am providing information to a prosecutor’s office and that any statements are provided voluntarily.

Statement 5 Applicant Initials *

I understand my statements on this application can be used against me if I have lied or provided false information.

Statement 6 Applicant Initials *

I am not currently represented by an attorney or I am currently represented by an attorney but wish to submit this application on my own after consulting with my lawyer

Statement 7 Applicant Initials *

No one has promised me anything to fill out this application.

Statement 7 Applicant Initials *

I understand the CIS reviews cases based on its own standards and my case may or may not be reviewed or investigated.

Statement 8 Applicant Initials *

I understand the CIS may contact any of the people or witnesses I have listed.

Statement 9 Applicant Initials *

I give my current and former attorney’s permission to share information from their files with the CIS.

Statement 10 Applicant Initials *

I give the Pennsylvania Innocence Project or any other innocence organization permission to share all information they may have in the review of my case with the CIS.

Statement 11 Applicant Initials *

I understand and waive any applicable privilege to the information I provide, including but not limited to, the attorney-client privilege.

Applicant Information

Name *

First Last

Doc Number *

Date of Birth *

Address

Street Address Address Line 2 City State / Province / Region ZIP / Postal Code Country

Case Number *

Date of Conviction *

Original Sentence *

Attorney who represented you at trial

Judge who sentenced you

IMPORTANT: If you are currently represented by an attorney, the CIS will only communicate with your attorney and your attorney needs to complete the “Application for Review Submitted by Attorney” on the website.

Are you currently represented by a lawyer?

Yes
No

Who is your attorney? *

Case Information

Please list all the Attorney(s) who have represented you:

Please check every box for every statement that is true. You can check as many boxes as you need.

My conviction happened in the COMMONWEALTH of PENNSYLVANIA
My direct appeal – the appeal following my sentence – is over

The date your appeal was denied: *

Please check every box for every statement that is that you believe applies.

You can check as many boxes as you need. If none apply, check the box saying “None of the above statements apply to me.”

I had no role in the crime I was convicted of.
I did some of what I was convicted for, but not all of it.
I did something illegal because I was forced to do it by someone else.
None of the above statements apply to me.

How were you convicted?

A jury or judge found me guilty
I entered a guilty or no contest plea

Please provide dates for the following

When did the crime occur (date)?

When were you arrested?

When were you sentenced?

Prior Post-conviction Appeals

Do you have any active appeals or post-conviction motion?

Yes
No

Please provide the case number: *

Have you filed any post-conviction motions before in this case?

Yes
No

Provide case information:

Prior DNA Testing

Was DNA evidence used at your trial?

Yes
No

Who was it sent by?

State
Defense

Have you filed a motion for DNA testing under state law?

Yes
No

Was testing done?

Yes
No

Contact with Innocence Organizations

Have you contacted the Pennsylvania Innocence Project about your case?

Yes
No

Are they currently investigating?

Yes
No

Have you contacted any other innocence organization/project about your case?

Yes
No

Which organization(s) and when?

New Evidence or Evidence of Innocence

Please check every box for every statement that is that you believe applies.

You can check as many boxes as you need. If none apply, check the box saying “None of the above statements apply to me.

A witness/informant who testified against me has recanted or changed their testimony.
I was not at the crime scene and have an alibi.
There is new evidence that proves my innocence that wasn’t available when I went to trial or entered my plea.
There was scientific testimony at my trial that was wrong or has been discredited
There is DNA in my case that was never tested.
The officer who arrested me or presented testimony against me was arrested.
None of the above statements apply to me.

Briefly explain what evidence: *

Briefly explain what testimony: *

Name of officer and badge number:

Questions About Scientific Evidence

Please check every box for every statement that is that you believe applies.

You can check as many boxes as you need. If none apply, check the box saying “None of the above statements apply to me.”

The Commonwealth said I hurt or killed a baby by shaking the baby
The Commonwealth said I intentionally started a fire.
The Commonwealth used bite mark evidence (teeth marks) against me
The Commonwealth used hair comparison evidence against me.
None of the above statements apply to me.

Information About Other Evidence

Please check every box for every statement that is that you believe applies.

You can check as many boxes as you need. If none apply, check the box saying “None of the above statements apply to me.”

I testified at my trial.
Police said I confessed to them, but I did not.
Police said I confessed to them, but my statement was coerced.
An eyewitness or victim didn’t know me but identified me as the person committing the crime.

If you were identified, which of the following fit how you were identified:

Please explain the deal and how you learned of it: *

Information About New Evidence and Innocence

Please answer these questions in the boxes, including as much information as you know. If you need more space, use a separate piece of paper.

Please explain in detail why you are innocent of this crime.

(For instance, if you were somewhere else when the crime happened, tell us where you were and what you were doing. If you don’t think a crime really happened, please tell us why you believe that.)

Please explain what you were doing the day of the incident and how you came to be arrested.

Please list the names and phone numbers of witnesses or any other person with relevant information, you think can provide information.

Do you know of anything new about your case you didn’t know when you went to trial or pleaded guilty?

(Has a witness changed his story, or do you think they will? Has someone else confessed to the crime? Do you know about new evidence? Please include as many details as possible.)

Do you have information about who may have committed the crime?

Is there anything else you want the CIS to know about your case?