Special Events

IPF Honored with the Gideon Award

The Innocence Project of Florida recently was honored by Florida’s 15th Judicial Circuit Office of the Public Defender (PD) with the 2013 Gideon Award.

Each year the Palm Beach County Office of the PD presents the Gideon Award to an individual or individuals who have manifested an honorable, consistent and recognizable effort to ensure equal justice for the indigent in our community.

The award is named in honor of Clarence Earl Gideon, an indigent defendant who filed a hand-written motion for a writ of certiorari to the U.S. Supreme Court seeking the right to appointed counsel. 2013 marks the 50th anniversary of the unanimous U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling in Gideon v. Wainwright which established that everyone is entitled to effective assistance of counsel. This ruling led to the formation of the statewide public defender system in Florida.

The Gideon Award was first presented in 2003; past recipients have included Talbot “Sandy” D’ Alemberte, IPF’s founding board chair and past president of the American Bar Association; Florida Supreme Court Justice Harry Lee Anstead (retired); Barry Scheck, Co-Founder of the Innocence Project; and Bryan Stevenson, Executive Director of the Equal Justice Initiative. We are honored and humbled to be among the list of Gideon Award recipients.

IPF staff attorney Melissa Montle proudly accepted the Gideon Award on IPF’s behalf.

Host a Fundraising Event in Support of IPF

DNA exonerations in Florida and nationwide clearly demonstrate that the criminal justice system is fundamentally flawed and all too often innocent people are wrongfully incarcerated. Raising public awareness of these injustices is a critical component of IPF’s on-going work. You can help free innocent people in Florida’s prison by holding an event in your community to educate your friends and colleagues. If you are interested in hosting an event, check out how to host an IPF house party.

Previous Events

We are very grateful to our friends who have worked tirelessly in support of our efforts to find and free the innocent people in Florida’s prisons. Please check out these past events that provided valuable support to IPF.

Steppin’ Out 2013. See highlights from the evening.
Steppin’ Out 2012. See highlights from the evening.
Tri-County Interfaith Alliance. See Highlights.
IPF’s Week of Outreach (Florida Southern College, Rollins College and Stetson University) Learn more.
William Dillon sang the national anthem at a Tampa Bay Rays game. See highlights.
FACDL June 2012. Learn more.
IPF visited Unitarian Universalist Church of Sarasota and the Democratic Club of Sarasota Learn more.
IPF was invited to Sarasota to speak at the Selby Library and Plymouth Harbor retirement home. Learn more.
Gathering at the Art Center Sarasota, hosted by Harriet & Stan Hendel. See highlights.
IPF hosted receptions in association with the movie, Conviction See highlights.
Board Chairman Mark Schlakman Summits Mt. Rainier in 2010 Learn more.
American Heritage School – Bowl for the Innocent 2010
American Heritage School – Bowl for the Innocent 2009 Learn more.