Unpacking Injustice

Today's episode introduces MTIP's newest client, Bradley Hillious, and provides an inside look at the investigation that led MTIP to take on his case and prepare a petition for post-conviction relief seeking a new trial.Bradley is serving a 100-year sentence for the death of his wife, Amanda Hillious. Amanda's death was initially believed to be the result of a fall down a staircase, but an autopsy later determined that her death was a homicide. At the time of her death, only two adults were present in the home: Bradley and his father, Scott Hillious. The same day that investigators informed both men that they would be questioned in connection with Amanda's death, Scott told Bradley, "I'm not going to jail," and died by suicide.The defense was barred from presenting its theory that Scott may have been responsible for Amanda's death and that his suicide showed consciousness of guilt. MTIP's central concerns are whether Bradley received a fair trial and effective representation. In this episode, you'll hear from MTIP Legal Director Brady Minow Smith, Intake and Pro Bono Coordinator Charlie McWeeny, and Investigations Manager and Staff Attorney Karl Pitcher. Together, they'll discuss why MTIP accepted the case, the legal issues, and what comes next.You'll also get to meet Bradley and hear his story in his own words.

In this episode of Unpacking Injustice, we're joined by Amanda McKnight, founder of 406 Revolutionized, a growing Facebook group supporting incarcerated individuals and their families across Montana.Amanda shares how her husband's incarceration led her to become what she calls an “unwilling student of a broken legal system.” What began as a personal search for answers quickly evolved into a statewide advocacy effort focused on helping families navigate Montana’s criminal legal system, access reliable information, and find community during some of the most difficult moments of their lives.Amanda discusses the challenges families face when a loved one becomes incarcerated, the importance of making legal systems easier to understand and navigate, and the role lived experience plays in advocating for change. She also shares her concerns about the parole board, prison conditions, communication barriers, and the need for greater transparency and accountability within Montana’s correctional system.Throughout the conversation, Amanda reflects on the power of community, why families should not be afraid to ask questions and speak up, and how collective advocacy can create meaningful change.To learn more about Amanda’s work, visit the 406 Revolutionized Facebook group and request to join.

In this episode of Unpacking Injustice, Rosebud Madinger shares the story behind Empower 180 and her work supporting Native women preparing to return home from the Montana Women’s Prison.Inspired by her work as a prison minister—and seeing many of the women return home only to come back to prison shortly after—Rosebud was called to focus on reentry, helping women break cycles of incarceration and build lasting stability in their communities.Montana incarcerates women at one of the highest rates in the world, where Indigenous women comprise roughly 40% of the prison population despite making up less than 7% of the state’s population. Many are incarcerated for crimes connected to addiction, poverty, and survival. Rosebud meets that reality with compassionate mentorship and culturally rooted support for women navigating incarceration and reentry.At the end of the episode, listeners will also hear from Shannon LaMere, Empower 180’s first participant, who reflects on her journey 15 months after leaving prison and speaks to the importance of reentry support and having someone believe in your future.Learn more about Empower 180: https://empower180reentry.org/If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, rate, and share Unpacking Injustice.

In this episode of Unpacking Injustice, Montana Innocence Project Legal Director Brady Minow Smith and Intake & Pro Bono Coordinator Charlie McWeeny discuss a major new development in the Aaron Oliphant case.Aaron was wrongfully convicted in 2016 after doctors claimed his infant son’s injuries were caused by abusive head trauma, often referred to as Shaken Baby Syndrome. Now, MTIP has filed a new post-conviction relief petition presenting newly uncovered medical evidence that challenges the foundation of the prosecution’s case.In this conversation, Brady and Charlie explain:Why Aaron’s original trial attorney failed to provide an adequate defenseHow missing medical records impacted the case for yearsThe new expert findings that challenge the prosecution’s timeline and medical conclusionsHow new evidence shows that the injuries are just as likely to be accidental as non-accidentalThe broader national conversation surrounding Shaken Baby Syndrome and abusive head trauma prosecutionsWhat could happen next in Aaron’s caseThe episode also explores larger questions about expert testimony, ineffective assistance of counsel, and what justice looks like when critical evidence was never presented at trial.At the center of this case is Aaron Oliphant — a man who has spent years incarcerated while maintaining his innocence, and who is now seeking the opportunity to finally present evidence a jury never heard.

In part two of this conversation, we continue our discussion with Brent Buell, theater producer, director, and longtime facilitator with Rehabilitation Through the Arts at Sing Sing prison.This episode focuses on reentry and the often invisible barriers that make that transition so difficult. Brent shares what he’s learned from walking alongside people returning home, and we discuss the decision to include the heartbreaking yet deeply informative and realistic parole board scenes in Sing Sing.He also reflects on the film’s broader impact—how honest storytelling can shift public perception and create space for meaningful, lasting change.Rehabilitation Through the Arts: https://rta-arts.orgBrent Buell’s website: https://brentbuell.comWatch Sing Sing (available on Max, Amazon Prime, YouTube)

In this two-part episode of Unpacking Injustice, we sit down with Brent Buell, a theater producer and director who spent over a decade teaching inside Sing Sing prison through Rehabilitation Through the Arts (RTA).In part one, Brent shares how theater became a powerful tool for transformation, helping incarcerated individuals build empathy and explore their identities. We discuss the impact of RTA’s work on recidivism and how this journey was brought to life in the 2023 Oscar-nominated film Sing Sing, starring Coleman Domingo.This is part one of a two-part conversation. Be sure to come back next week for part two!Rehabilitation Through the Arts: https://rta-arts.orgBrent Buell’s website: https://brentbuell.com Watch Sing Sing (available on Max, Amazon Prime, YouTube)

In this episode, we share a recording from our book club discussion of What’s Prison For? Punishment and Rehabilitation in the Age of Mass Incarceration by Pulitzer Prize–winning journalist Bill Keller.Keller — former executive editor of The New York Times and founding editor-in-chief of The Marshall Project — joined the first portion of the conversation to discuss redemption, the role of correctional officers in shaping prison culture, and why preparing incarcerated people for reentry is essential to public safety and human dignity.After his remarks, the discussion opens to community members, who reflect on how the book challenged their understanding of accountability, second chances, and the purpose of incarceration. Together, participants explore what justice can look like beyond punishment.Next Book Club SelectionWe’re looking ahead to our next discussion featuring The Untold Story of Lethal Injection by Montana author Corinna Barrett Lain. We’re grateful that Corinna will join the conversation on September 22 from 12:00–1:00 p.m.Additional details and registration will be available as the date approaches.

Montana incarcerates women at one of the highest rates in the world — and Indigenous women are disproportionately represented, making up more than 40 percent of the population at Montana’s women’s prison. In this episode of Unpacking Injustice, we are joined by Kristina Lucero, a citizen of the Tseycum Band of the Saanich Nation on Vancouver Island and Director of the American Indian Governance and Policy Institute, to begin unpacking the roots of this crisis.Throughout the conversation, Kristina grounds policy and data in personal history, including the story of her grandmother, Mary Jack, a boarding school survivor whose experiences reflect the intergenerational trauma created by federal Indian boarding school policies. She explains how historical trauma continues to shape the lives of Indigenous women and families today.We also examine how colonization disrupted Indigenous governance, criminalized culture, and replaced community-based healing with punishment, and how that trauma intersects with poverty and lack of access to resources — often turning survival behaviors into pathways to incarceration.Kristina draws our attention to Montana’s women’s prison, where Indigenous women face limited access to culturally grounded healing, trauma-informed care, and meaningful rehabilitation. Kristina highlights the ripple effects incarceration has on children, families, and communities, and why healing during incarceration is essential for both individual well-being and long-term public safety when people return home.This high-level conversation begins to break down complex issues that Unpacking Injustice will continue to explore as the Montana Innocence Project implements its new strategic plan, with a specific focus on addressing the unjust incarceration of women and survivors.This episode lays the groundwork for continued dialogue, understanding, and action toward justice.

In this episode of Unpacking Injustice, we revisit the case of Bernard Pease Jr., wrongfully convicted of a 1984 murder based on faulty forensic evidence. Two years after a pivotal evidentiary hearing revealed that a hair presented at trial as belonging to the victim was actually a cat hair, the Montana Innocence Project continues its fight to secure justice for Bernie. With new filings due this Friday, this episode comes at a critical moment. MTIP Legal Director Brady Minow Smith breaks down the original trial, the now-debunked forensic evidence that helped secure Bernie’s conviction, and why relying too heavily on certain types of evidence can be dangerous. We also hear from Bernie and his sister, Linda Thomas, as they reflect on the most recent evidentiary hearing and what it meant to finally feel heard by a judge, along with the moments of joy and connection Bernie has experienced since being paroled—powerful reminders of what’s possible when freedom is restored.

In this Giving Tuesday special episode of Unpacking Injustice, MTIP Executive Director Amy Sings In The Timber and Legal Director Brady Minow Smith walk through the Montana Innocence Project’s newly released strategic plan. Since 2008, MTIP has been dedicated to freeing the innocent and challenging injustice. In this episode, Amy and Brady break down how our mission is expanding to meet the needs we see every day in Montana’s legal system — from strengthening legal casework to improving reentry support and advancing second-chance reforms.Together, they discuss each of our four strategic priorities:1. Narrative ChangeHow shifting public understanding, elevating lived experiences, and sharing accurate data can change the conversation about justice in Montana.2. Legal WorkHow MTIP will continue our commitment to innocence work while expanding our legal efforts to address other forms of injustice and bring about second chances for more people.3. Support for ReentryWhy reentry support is essential, what Montanans face as they come home from prison, and how MTIP will stand alongside clients as they rebuild their lives.4. AdvocacyHow community-powered policy work and statewide collaboration can build a more fair, accountable, and transparent justice system.Whether you’ve followed MTIP for years or are joining us for the first time, this episode offers clear insight into where we’re headed and why this moment matters.Support Our WorkIf you believe in the work ahead, consider making a Giving Tuesday gift to help bring this strategic plan to life.https://mtinnocenceproject.org/donateRead the Strategic Plan Summary https://mtinnocenceproject.org/mtip-2026-2029-strategic-plan/

What does justice look like when we execute someone, knowing the system is fallible?In this episode, Montana Innocence Project Executive Director Amy Sings In The Timber and Legal Director Brady Minow Smith discuss the death penalty — its moral, legal, and human implications through the lens of innocence and manifest injustice work.They explore how personal experience shapes perspective, why innocence cases reveal the irreversible dangers of capital punishment, and what redemption means in a justice system built on retribution.The conversation also touches on the case of Robert Roberson, an Innocence Project client who, at the time of recording, was scheduled for execution in Texas based on discredited science. Amy and Brady unpack what happens when new evidence and evolving science are ignored and what that says about our justice system.We are elated to share that since this recording, Robert has been granted a stay of execution, opening the door for a step toward justice.Join us for a discussion marking World Day Against the Death Penalty. We encourage you to listen, reflect, and share this episode with someone who may be interested in learning more perspectives on this critical issue.Recommended Resources:Witness to InnocenceConservatives Concerned Death Penalty ActionRecommended Reads:His Execution Is Days Away. A Detective Says He’s Innocent.The Last Appeal Podcast by Lester HoltTexas court blocks execution of death row inmate Robert Roberson

In recognition of the 12th Annual International Wrongful Conviction Day, the Montana Innocence Project was honored to be joined by author, lawyer, and exoneree Calvin Duncan. Alongside MTIP Executive Director Amy Sings In The Timber and Legal Director Brady Minow Smith, the panel explored the barriers that keep people behind bars, Calvin’s story and work since exoneration—including his current bid for the Clerk of Courts office—and broader manifest injustices affecting Montanans and communities nationwide beyond actual innocence cases.This conversation is both educational and inspiring, highlighting actionable steps we can take to advance fairness and reform in our legal system.

In this episode of Unpacking Injustice, we sit down with Ali Lacayo, Social Services Advocate at the Montana Innocence Project. Ali shares their journey from incarceration to advocacy, reflecting on how cultural identity, resilience, and community values guide their work.The conversation explores the intersections of racial justice and criminal legal reform, the impact of lived experience on advocacy, and MTIP’s future initiatives, such as parole planning and Inside Out Organizing, which empower incarcerated individuals to lead change. Ali underscores the importance of cultural identity in building stronger movements, the need for community support, and why sustainable funding is essential to advancing justice.We dive into Ali’s personal story, highlighting how they embody the caring, loving, and colorful spirit of their culture. This Hispanic Heritage Month, we celebrate Ali’s work and the vibrant values that continue to shape their advocacy and community leadership.

In this episode of Unpacking Injustice, Montana Innocence Project client Katie Garding shares her experience on a three-day women’s backpacking retreat at Doris Lake near Whitefish, Montana. While this was her first backpacking adventure, her lifelong love of nature made the journey all the more meaningful. Katie describes the trip as freeing—an opportunity to be fully present in nature without the weight of her ongoing wrongful conviction. We discuss the details of her retreat, the emotions that surfaced upon her return home, and the grounding lessons that nature offers in presence and resilience.

Our mission is to free the innocent and unjustly incarcerated, and advocate for systems of Justice that are accurate, accountable, and fair for all. One of the main ways we achieve this is through providing free legal representation. On this episode, we are joined by MTIP Legal Director Brady Minow Smith who details the types of cases MTIP takes on and how to initiate the application process.

In Part 2 of this series, we continue our conversation with Katherine Judson, the Executive Director of the Center for Integrity in Forensic Sciences. In this episode we will explore how similar symptoms to SBS/AHT can sometimes be overlooked or dismissed, further leading to misdiagnosis and how forensic and medical experts' biases or assumptions influence the outcomes of these cases. We'll also discuss the emotional toll SBS/AHT cases have on clients and their attorneys, the importance of collaborative efforts between medical and legal communities, and the need for ongoing research and updated scientific standards to prevent parents and caretakers from being wrongfully convicted based on this diagnosis.

In today’s episode you will hear from Katherine Judson, the Executive Director of the Center for Integrity in Forensic Sciences. Katherine previously served as the SBS/AHT Litigation Coordinator for the Wisconsin Innocence Project, where she coordinated strategic litigation efforts in science-dependent cases, trained lawyers, consulted on medically complex cases, taught law students, and engaged in direct representation of clients wrongfully convicted of child abuse and homicide. Earlier in her career, she served as the Innocence Network Shaken Baby Syndrome Litigation Fellow and as a trial attorney with the New Mexico Public Defender Department, where she represented clients facing felony charges, including capital crimes, and specialized in cases involving complicated forensic evidence. Her background in science–prior to law school–includes a bachelor’s degree in Zoology from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and work as a research assistant in a pathology laboratory at the University. She has spoken before the American Academy of Forensic Sciences, the Innocence Network, the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, and other law schools and professional organizations on topics related to forensic science.In this conversation, Katherine will share her insights into the history of the highly controversial Shaken Baby Syndrome/Abusive Head Trauma diagnosis and will highlight the ongoing debates and key misconceptions that have persisted in both the medical community and the courtroom in these types of cases.

In Part 2 of this series, we continue our conversation with MTIP Board Member and criminal defense attorney Paul Leisher to delve deeper into the details of Aaron Oliphant’s case, examining how his ineffective assistance of counsel and the absence of medical expert testimony impacted the outcome of his trial. Additionally, we will explore the key challenges attorneys encounter when defending clients wrongfully accused of Shaken Baby Syndrome, and discuss potential reforms to be made within the medical and legal systems to help prevent future wrongful convictions in SBS cases.

MTIP Board Member and criminal defense attorney Paul Leisher sat down with MTIP Communications Associate Ashley Miller to explain the highly controversial diagnosis of Shaken Baby Syndrome, the role it played in MTIP client Aaron Oliphant’s case, and its implications for wrongful conviction.

During the 2025 Legislative Session the Montana Innocence Project fought for legislation to restore and improve a compensation program for exonerees, establish state coordinated reentry services, institute work time credit for individuals under state supervision, and to protect the innocent from capital punishment.Today's conversation with MTIP Executive Director Amy Sings In The Timber examines the outcomes of HB 205, SB 217, HB 718, and HB 93. We will learn about the resulting reforms to the criminal legal system as well as the impact of the reform that did not pass, and how MTIP will move forward in the interim session.

MTIP Communications Associate Ashley Miller spoke with Dr. John Morgan, an author, researcher, and professor, internationally recognized for his work in forensic science. Dr. Morgan discussed his extensive research on forensic science errors in wrongful convictions, as well as how we can work towards mitigating future errors, and making system based reforms by forensic practitioners. Take a listen!

MTIP Communications Associate Ashley Miller spoke with Dr. Craig Haney, a social psychologist and a professor at the UC Santa Cruz, to discuss the psychological trauma and health effects that incarceration, and more specifically wrongful incarceration has on individuals. Haney holds psychology and law degrees, and began his career as one of the principal researchers on the Stanford Prison Experiment conducted in 1971, which would go on to inform his life’s research in real prisons across the country.

Last week, four Montana Innocence Project staff members and freed client Joseph Jefferson-Dust attended the 2024 Innocence Network Conference in New Orleans.Over 1,200 people were united in community at the event, including 400 freed and exonerated people, who had endured a total of 6,654 years of wrongful imprisonment. Our staff and client Joseph Jefferson-Dust engaged in educational sessions, community-building, collective empowerment, and healing. In this episode they will reflect on their biggest takeaways from the event! To see photos from the conference, head over to our Instagram @Bigskyinnocence.

MTIP Communications Associate Ashley Miller spoke with client Katie Garding to discuss her reentry journey over the last year, after her wrongful conviction was overturned in March of 2023. She discussed updates on where her wrongful conviction case stands today, her newfound career, and her hopes for the future! Take a listen!

MTIP Communications Manager Ashley Miller spoke with client Bernard Pease Jr. and his sister Linda Thomas over the phone to discuss his re-entry journey after spending nearly 40 years wrongfully incarcerated for a crime he did not commit. On January 2nd, Bernie was discharged from the Alpha House Pre-release Center in Billings, MT and was reunited with his family. He candidly discussed new challenges he is facing after incarceration, the excitement of being home with family, and his hopes for the future.

Dana Comes At Night, Lisa Brueggeman, and Stacy Markus play instrumental roles in the Adult Drug Court program located in Polson, Montana, which serves Lake County defendants receiving treatment for crimes relating to substance use disorder. Along with more than half of the participants, all three women are Indigenous. Dana is enrolled in the Blackfeet Nation, and Lisa and Stacy are members of the Confederated Salish and Kootenai tribes.Indigenous defendants face the additional hurdle of navigating the complex generational trauma resulting from colonization. This was true for Dana, Lisa, and Stacy during their personal justice involvement. Today, they serve as examples of women from their communities who survived the system. They draw on their shared experiences with participants to infuse sincerity, truth, and understanding into the program.The Montana Innocence Project had the opportunity to attend one of their Thursday evening group sessions. The impact of their leadership as people who were once in the same positions as the participants sitting around the table with them was evident the entire time. In today’s episode, you will hear from each of the women about how they found themselves working in the same courtroom they were once sentenced in and the power of that dynamic.

The Montana Innocence Project is beginning the exciting work of digging into how we can meaningfully address not only wrongful convictions but also unjust convictions. In today’s episode, MTIP Executive Director Amy Sings In The Timber breaks down what Second Chance work is and how our organization is in the early yet promising stages of understanding mechanisms of release for the unjustly incarcerated.

Missoula Municipal Court Judge Jake Coolidge and Criminal Defense Attorney and MTIP Board Member Carrie Gibadlo share their reflections on the injustices baked into the cash bail system, why innocence advocates should care, and some recent reforms taking place in Missoula County.

In the last three years, the Montana Innocence Project has carefully examined how wrongful and unjust convictions impact Indian Country and how to best expand organizationally and programmatically to realize its mission in those communities that are most impacted by the injustices the organization works to remediate. In today’s episode, MTIP Executive Director Amy Sings In The Timber breaks down how innocence and unjust conviction work in Montana must be achieved through an Indigenous Justice lens and the exciting ways in which MTIP’s work is growing due to a recent Bureau of Justice Assitance award.

Montana Innocence Project client Joseph Jefferson-Dust was wrongfully convicted of Criminal Endangerment in 2017 following a false accusation. His case began when his accuser fully recanted. In an incredible turn of events, Yellowstone County Prosecutor Sarah Hyde acted swiftly upon recognizing the lack of evidence and moved the Court to vacate the conviction. Last Friday, Joe appeared before Judge Brett Linneweber who relieved Joe of all duties to probation and parole and indicated that he will vacate the conviction. In today’s episode, Joe discusses his reaction to the hearing, the impact of probation restrictions on his connection with his culture and family, and what life looks like for him when his case is resolved.

The Montana Innocence Project’s mission is to free the innocent and unjustly incarcerated, and advocate for systems of Justice that are accurate, accountable, and fair for all. One of the main ways we achieve this is through free legal representation. On this episode, we are joined by Legal Director Caiti Carpenter and Program Support Specialist Adrienne Ellsworth who detail what types of cases MTIP takes on and how to initiate the application process. (Vaya al final del episodio para ver un mensaje en español.)

Montana Innocence Project client Kelly Worthan has been wrongfully convicted for nearly two decades. Last fall, he and three other incarcerated people at MSP were accepted from a pool of about 75 applicants to get a four-year degree from Montana State University in Billings. In today’s episode, Kelly talks about the barriers for incarcerated college students and how this new journey has impacted his wrongful incarceration experience.

Katie’s Story is a podcast series produced by Alberton High School students Cheyanne Dinneen and Raeleen Czerp-Davis. It explores the wrongful conviction story of Montana Innocence Project client Katie Garding who was wrongfully convicted for a 2008 vehicular homicide after her ex-boyfriend falsely accused her in exchange for leniency in his own case. In Part 4, Raeleen sits down with Katie’s mom Lori, sister Chyrel, and son Carson to learn how they have been impacted by this process. We also hear Katie’s reflections on her entire 13-year journey toward innocence.

Katie’s Story is a podcast series produced by Alberton High School students Cheyanne Dinneen and Raeleen Czerp-Davis. It explores the wrongful conviction story of Montana Innocence Project client Katie Garding who was wrongfully convicted for a 2008 vehicular homicide after her ex-boyfriend falsely accused her in exchange for leniency in his own case. In Part 3, MTIP Legal Director Caiti Carpenter details how the legal team used the argument of ineffective assistance of counsel to overturn Katie’s conviction in March 2023 and what the next phases of her fight for innocence may entail.

Katie’s Story is a podcast series produced by Alberton High School students Cheyanne Dinneen and Raeleen Czerp-Davis. It explores the wrongful conviction story of Montana Innocence Project client Katie Garding who was wrongfully convicted for a 2008 vehicular homicide after her ex-boyfriend falsely accused her in exchange for leniency in his own case. In Part 2, we sit down with MTIP Legal Director Caiti Carpenter to learn more about the innocence issues present in Katie’s case–incentivized witness testimony and ineffective assistance of counsel.

Katie’s Story is a podcast series produced by Alberton High School students Cheyanne Dinneen and Raeleen Czerp-Davis. It explores the wrongful conviction story of Montana Innocence Project client Katie Garding who was wrongfully convicted for a 2008 vehicular homicide after her ex-boyfriend falsely accused her in exchange for leniency in his own case. In Part 1, you will learn about the circumstances leading up to her wrongful conviction and get to know who Katie is beyond her innocence case.

During the 2023 legislative session, the Montana Innocence Project worked to reauthorize and improve exoneree compensation and protect the innocent against eyewitness misidentification and the faulty science of facial recognition technology. The episode features a conversation with MTIP Executive Director Amy Sings In The Timber about the outcomes of Senate Bill 464, Senate Bill 397, and House Bill 423. We will learn about the resulting reforms to the criminal legal system as well as the impact of the reform that did not pass and how MTIP will move forward in the interim session.

Last weekend, the Montana Innocence Project staff, freed clients Katie Garding and Dave Wilkes, and Dave’s brother Tim attended the 20th Annual Innocence Network Conference in Phoenix, Arizona. We were moved by presentations of freed and exonerated people who shared their stories and perspectives. We learned about emerging trends in innocence advocacy and ways to improve our work. And importantly, we spent two days in community with over 1,000 people working in the innocence movement including nearly 350 freed and exonerated people. In this episode, staff and clients who attended will share their biggest takeaways. To see photos from our time in Phoenix, head over to our Instagram @BigSkyInnocence.

On March 23, the United States District Court for the District of Montana overturned Montana Innocence Project client Katie Garding's conviction based on ineffective assistance of counsel, which violated her Sixth Amendment right. On May 26, join us for the premiere of "Katie's Story," a multi-episode series about Katie’s case and how her fight for innocence is unfolding. We will unpack the innocence issues of ineffective assistance of counsel and incentivized witness testimony and examine how wrongful convictions impact families. "Katie's Story" is produced and hosted by Alberton High School Students Raeleen and Cheyenne.

On today's episode of Unpacking Injustice, we are joined by the Sentencing Project’s Senior Director of Advocacy Nicole D. Porter and Montana Women Vote’s Justice Initiative Director Nicole Gomez to discuss their upcoming virtual event 50 Years and a Wake Up in Montana all about mass incarceration over the last 50 years and what it looks like in Montana today. You will hear about some of the legislative efforts going on right now that are perpetuating mass incarceration and learn ways to join the fight against mass incarceration on national and local levels.Join The Sentencing Project, Montana Women Vote, and Open Aid Alliance on April 12 at 5 p.m. MST on Zoom. Click here to register for the event.Click here to learn more about the Sentencing Project's ongoing campaign.Email Nicole D. Porter at [email protected] to get involved!

Last July, the Council of State Governments Justice Center released a report titled Racial Equity in Montana’s Criminal Justice System: An Analysis of Court, Corrections, and Community Supervision Systems detailing disparities experienced by Indigenous peoples in Montana’s criminal legal system. Researchers Alison Martin and Matt Herman sat down with us to discuss how the study was conducted, the key findings, what it means for other racial and ethnic minorities in Montana whose criminal justice experiences were not examined due to lack of data, and current efforts to increase race data availability in Montana’s criminal legal system. Click here to read the report discussed in this episode.

Last July, the Council of State Governments Justice Center released a report titled Racial Equity in Montana’s Criminal Justice System: An Analysis of Court, Corrections, and Community Supervision Systems detailing disparities experienced by Indigenous peoples in Montana’s criminal legal system. Researchers Alison Martin and Matt Herman sat down with us to discuss how the study was conducted, the key findings, what it means for other racial and ethnic minorities in Montana whose criminal justice experiences were not examined due to lack of data, and current efforts to increase race data availability in Montana’s criminal legal system. Click here to read the report discussed in this episode.

After nearly 40 years, Montana Innocence Project client Bernard Pease Jr. left prison on January 4 and was transferred to the pre-release center in Billings. He was granted parole subject to an extended pre-release stay late last year. MTIP Executive Director Amy Sings In The Timber and Communications and Community Outreach Manager Randi Mattox visited Bernard at the center last week to discuss the beginning of his re-entry journey. He spoke about his anxiety around new experiences, getting to see his sister Linda with fewer restrictions, and his hopes of working in the fishing guide industry.

Dave & Gabe’s Story is a four-part series about Montana Innocence Project client Dave Wilkes who was freed in 2020 after spending nine years wrongfully incarcerated for the deliberate homicide of his three-month-old son Gabriele.In this episode, Dave tells us the conclusion to his innocence case and where life stands for him today. He provides an honest account of the complicated feelings that come with freedom after being wrongfully convicted.

Dave & Gabe’s Story is a four-part series about Montana Innocence Project client Dave Wilkes who was freed in 2020 after spending nine years wrongfully incarcerated for the deliberate homicide of his three-month-old son Gabriele.In this episode, Dave describes his experience facing trial for a crime he did not commit, and Missoula-based criminal defense attorney Colin Stephens breaks down ineffective assistance of counsel and how IAC factored into Dave’s case.

Dave & Gabe’s Story is a four-part series about Montana Innocence Project client Dave Wilkes who was freed in 2020 after spending nine years wrongfully incarcerated for the deliberate homicide of his three-month-old son Gabriele.In this episode, Dave explains the controversial diagnosis of Shaken Baby Syndrome. We also hear from Montana Innocence Project Legal Director, Caiti Carpenter, who explains the history of the diagnosis and its implications for wrongful conviction.

Dave & Gabe’s Story is a four-part series about Montana Innocence Project client Dave Wilkes who was freed in 2020 after spending nine years wrongfully incarcerated for the deliberate homicide of his three-month-old son Gabriele.In this episode, Dave tells us about fatherhood, fighting to win custody of Gabe, and the night of October 4, 2008, where Gabe was rushed to the hospital after Dave found him unresponsive.