The conference will begin the morning of Thursday, April 9th for freed/exonerated people and for post-conviction innocence litigators. It will begin the morning of Friday, April 10th for all other attendees. The conference will end in the evening on Saturday, April 11th.

View the conference schedule-at-a-glance.

The 2026 conference will feature sessions within the following focus areas:

• Case Intake, Evaluation, & Investigation
• Forensic Science & Social Science
• Post-Conviction Litigation (for New & Experienced Attorneys)
• Post-Release/Reentry Support, Social Work, Trauma-Informed Practices
• ​Policy, Advocacy, & Community Engagement
• Organizational Development (Fundraising/Development, Leadership/Management, HR, etc.​​)
• Emerging Areas (Mass Exoneration, Alternative Pathways to Release, Manifest Injustice, Race & Wrongful Conviction, etc.) 

​​​To access and review materials provided by conference breakout session organizers, please click here.

The purpose of these Community Guidelines is to ensure that all members of our community feel safe, welcomed, and supported while attending the Innocence Network Conference. By registering for the conference, all attendees agree to follow these guidelines.

• Treat all conference attendees and venue staff with respect and consideration, valuing diverse views and opinions. 
• Operate with curiosity and generosity, avoiding assumptions and generalizations. Listen for understanding, not just to respond. 
• Work together to foster a safe space free of harassment, sexual harassment, bullying, intimidation, or discrimination in any form. 
• Honor your needs and know your limits. Care for yourself and the community by taking a break, getting some air, and seeking support when needed. Consider connecting with a Conference Ambassador. 
• Respect privacy and confidentiality. Don’t speak on behalf of others without their permission and don’t share something communicated in a private or safe space. 

The Innocence Network prohibits all forms of financial solicitation in conference spaces. Anyone found engaging in solicitation may be asked to leave immediately and may be prohibited from attending future conferences.

The Innocence Network prohibits all research activities at the conference, including recruitment of participants and the collection of data. Anyone engaging in research or research recruitment may be asked to leave immediately and may be prohibited from attending future conferences.

A limited number of members of the media may be granted permission to attend the conference. Please contact Network Support Unit Director Meredith Kennedy with any media requests and to discuss the conference media policy.

​​​W​​e appreciate your commitment to protecting the health and safety of our community. All 2026 Innocence Network Conference attendees are encouraged to test for COVID-19 in advance of traveling to the conference, and are respectfully asked not to attend if they test positive or are feeling ill. Both rapid tests and masks will be available to attendees onsite. Walk-in registration will not be permitted under any circumstances this year. All conference attendees must register in advance online no later than Sunday, April 5th. 

Individuals who experience any of the following symptoms within 5 days of the start of the conference should not attend:  

• Fever, cough, or shortness of breath  
• Exposure to a confirmed case of COVID-19  
• A COVID-19 diagnosis that has not yet been cleared as non-contagious by public health authorities  

In any of these cases, a full refund will be issued up to the day the conference begins (April 10, 2026). If you must cancel your conference registration for a reason other than illness, a full refund will be given as long as the request is made within 10 days before the start of the conference (by April 1, 2026). 

Please be aware that the hotel cancellation policy is different. Please see the Hotel & Travel page for more details. 

Exhibitors

If you are interested in purchasing or reserving an exhibitor table at the conference, please contact Becca Freeman.

Sponsors

If you are interested in sponsoring or underwriting aspects of the conference, please contact Meredith Kennedy.

Q: I cannot attend in person. Are there virtual or hybrid options to attend this conference? 

A: This conference is a fully in-person event. There are no virtual or hybrid attendance options.

Q: I am undecided if I will attend this event. Is last minute and/or onsite registration permitted? 

A: Anyone who plans to attend the conference must complete an online registration by April 5, 2026. Walk-in and/or onsite registration will not be permitted under any circumstances.

Q: What is the registration cost for a freed/exonerated person to attend the conference? 

A: The registration fee for freed/exonerated people is $150. For more information about freed/exonerated registration fees, please see this letter from the Innocence Network Executive Board and Network Support Unit.

Q: I do not have sufficient funding to cover travel, accommodations, and/or registration. Are there scholarships or financial assistance available to attend? 

A: We provide heavily discounted conference registration for all freed/exonerated people and for one family member or support person to accompany each freed/exonerated person. Unfortunately, we do not have funding to provide any additional scholarships or financial assistance at this time.

Q: I am a freed/exonerated person and would like my family member(s) to attend with me. How do they register and what is the cost?  

A: Each freed/exonerated person is welcome to invite one family member, partner, or person providing necessary support to accompany them to the conference at a reduced registration rate of $200. The cost of these attendees is subsidized by those registering in other categories, therefore additional family members or support persons must register at the general rate. Please note that family member/support person tickets are not intended for those who are offering support to freed/exonerated attendees in a professional capacity.

Q: I would like my child(ren) to attend with me. Are children allowed at the conference? 

A: Children are not encouraged to attend the conference. There is no childcare available, and due to the themes and content of much of the conference, it is not an appropriate setting for children. If you are still interested in bringing your child, please reach out to Cait Murray to discuss pricing.

Q: I am a litigator planning to attend this conference. Can I get CLE credit(s) for attending legal sessions? 

A: The Innocence Network Conference is not nationally registered to provide CLE credits directly to attendees. However, many people are able to self-report and earn CLE credits that way. This process varies from state to state, but the Innocence Network is happy to provide a letter confirming attendance and/or complete any required paperwork.

Q: I'm an international attendee and I need a letter of invitation in order to get a visa to attend. How do I go about this? 

A: Because visa processes tend to differ country by country, we typically ask international attendees to draft the invitation letter themselves in order to ensure that it includes all of the required information and then we are happy to add our letterhead and sign it. Please contact Cait Murray with any requests for assistance.