Non-attorney legal staff are often on the frontlines of communication with people who are deprived of their freedom and their support networks at all stages of innocence work, from initial contact to navigating the free world. They help to build bridges between people fighting for relief and justice, attorneys, and the shifting landscapes of the free world. Non-attorney communications have the power to provide authentic support or cause deep harm and re-traumatize people. This panel is hosted by people with lived and professional experience, including an exoneree, a paralegal, a mental health provider, and a program and operations manager. They will discuss the impact of communication on both well-being and case collaboration, ethical and humanitarian imperatives, and tangible communication strategies for communication in relationship with people of different backgrounds and experiences.