Leila Mardirossian
Research Mentor(s): Matthew Lassiter
Mentor Department: History
Authors: Leila Mardirossian, Katie Pieper
Session: Session 5 (2:00pm – 2:50pm)
Presentation Type: Poster 29
Abstract
Despite constant efforts by the American legal system to achieve justice for many, the criminal justice system fails to recognize those who have experienced acts of misconduct against them. Instead of authentically carrying out the work of the people, many law enforcement officers, government officials, legal figures, and witnesses have led to the incarceration of many individuals. The Reckoning Project works to elucidate legal actors who have violated the constitutional rights of citizens and abused their authority in order to prevent similar actions from occurring. The main goals of the Reckoning Project are to 1) reduce the prison sentence for incarcerated individuals impacted by federal misconduct and falsely accused; 2) provide a database for the public to be informed and encourage scholarly investigations; 3) collaborate with legal teams that represent those suffering the consequences of law enforcement lawlessness; 4) accurately represent the stories behind those affected; 5) create possibilities for future exonerations through the connection between the unconstitutional actions by authority and potential innocent lives; and 6) shift the narrative that those working with the law are exempt from following what they enforce. With a dedicated team eager to facilitate change, the Reckoning Project will rescue innocent lives from an unjust criminal legal system.
