Illinois launches Conviction Integrity Unit to investigate possible wrongful convictions

CHICAGO (WLS) -- Illinois launched its first-ever Conviction Integrity Unit to fight back against wrongful convictions.

ABC7 Chicago is now streaming 24/7. Click here to watch

Attorney General Kwame Raoul was joined by several state's attorneys, including Cook County State's Attorney-elect Eileen O'Neil Burke and DuPage County State's Attorney Bob Berlin for an announcement Tuesday.

"Wrongful convictions destroy lives. Wrongful convictions diminish faith in our criminal justice system," Raoul said.

The Conviction Integrity Unit will investigate claims to determine if new and credible evidence proves the innocence of individuals serving time for crimes they did not commit.

Raoul said in setting up the unit his office met with multiple resources across the country and 71 state's attorneys in Illinois to gather their input.

READ ALSO | Cook County will pay $24.8M to victims of disgraced Chicago police detective Reynaldo Guevara

It's a new team to restore lost faith. The unit is comprised of attorneys, prosecutors and even a former FBI agent to support states attorneys across Illinois.

It comes as data from the National Registry of Exonerations show Illinois leading the nation on the number of wrongful convictions.

"Mistakes are made, and so we all have the interests of getting things right," Raoul said.

Cordell Williams, who spent 28 years in prison after being convicted for first-degree murder, was one of those mistakes.

"It was hell in there and hell out here," Williams said. "I was labeled as a super predator."

He was one of many to have his conviction overturned through Cook County State's Attorney Kim Foxx. But even freedom comes at a heavy cost.

"We have the mental illness aspect and the trauma aspect that has perpetuated itself through this knowing, willing situation," Williams said.

It's why the attorney general wants this unit to be a resource across the state.

In order to apply for a wrongful conviction, applicants must:

1. Have been convicted by an Illinois state board.
2. Have been convicted for a forcible felony, such as murder, criminal sexual assault or aggravated battery.
3. Claim actual innocence.
4. Have newly discovered and credible evidence to support that claim.

"These cases are so hard to do. They take so many resources, people power, people hours," said Lauren Kaeseberg, Illinois Innocence Project legal director.

Kaeseberg said, while the work is hard, the unit is a step in the right direction for justice.

"Anytime an innocent person is wrongfully convicted, it means the real perpetrator got away with a crime, and victims, their families, they don't get closure," Kaeseberg said.