Host of For The Innocent and On the Road
Michael Semanchik is the Executive Director of The Innocence Center (TIC), a formidable national legal institution dedicated to liberating the wrongfully incarcerated, fostering public awareness of wrongful convictions, and offering unwavering support to the exonerated. His career, marked by an indomitable commitment to justice, has seen him secure the freedom of eleven innocent individuals who collectively endured over 180 years of unjust imprisonment. Notably, he played a pivotal role in the exoneration of NFL icon Brian Banks, earning him the coveted title of Attorney of the Year from California Lawyer Magazine in 2013. Michael’s influence extends beyond courtrooms, as he has shared his wisdom at educational institutions and appeared frequently in the media. Hailing from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Michael Semanchik embodies the relentless pursuit of justice.
In this episode of Hard Knox, now airing on For the Innocent, Amanda Knox sits down with Michael Semanchik and exoneree Scott McMahon. Scott is an American who endured more than five...
We trust the justice system to protect the innocent and prosecute the guilty, but what happens when it gets things catastrophically wrong? In 1981, 21-year-old William Michael Dillon became the focus of...
The failure rate of our prison systems is staggering, with recidivism exceeding 70% in nearly every state. What should this tell us about the success—or lack thereof—of our criminal justice system? And,...
A maximum-security prison may not seem like the natural setting for a homegrown theater program. But at Sing Sing Prison in New York, just such a project has inspired scores of incarcerated...
In 1998, a retired NYPD officer was shot and killed inside an illegal gambling parlor. Angry cops wanted speedy justice for one of their own, and an overzealous, incautious investigation ensued. A...
At just 17 years old, Bruce Lisker was branded a murderer after being accused and convicted of the violent killing of his mother. He would go on to spend the next 26...
In 1983, Bruce Lisker’s mother was violently attacked in their family home. After responding to his frantic 911 call, police quickly drew assumptions from the chaotic crime scene. Dorka Lisker was bludgeoned,...
To this day, some still believe Amanda Knox is guilty of the horrific murder of Meredith Kercher in 2007. However, this belief appears to stem entirely from the wildly sensational media coverage...
Suffering is part of the human experience, but most of us are granted the dignity of processing our pain and healing in private. For Amanda Knox, that has never been an option....
Hosted by Michael Semanchik, For the Innocent exposes the shocking reality of wrongful convictions through raw, first-person stories from the exonerated. Season 3 returns September 9th featuring powerful accounts from Amanda Knox, JJ...
Don’t Lose Your Fight for Freedom Before it Begins
16 Years Lost for the Crimes of Someone Else
It took a speeding ticket, DNA evidence, and 18 years in prison to finally set him free.
Bargains from behind bars are never easy.
Her journey from a tragic home fire and wrongful conviction to a false admission of guilt.
Believe it or not, there are many reasons to plead guilty when you’re not.
From a False Accusation to a Coerced Plea for the Death Penalty.
When forensic evidence gets it wrong, how do we free the innocent?
Circular logic and blind faith sent many innocent parents to prison for the rest of their lives. Here’s why.
What happens when forensic science is later found to be false?
After a long fight for freedom following his wrongful conviction at just 16, exoneree Brian Banks focuses his efforts toward raising awareness and inspiring others. Host Michael Semanchik talks with Brian about...
Proving His Innocence, Unwinding Corruption, and Getting the Hell Out
Organized Crime, Questionable Officials, and a False Confession...
Jailhouse Snitches & Confidential Informants: Why the Innocent are Falsely Accused
Starting Over, Clearing His Name, and Making it to the NFL
From Wrongful Incarceration to Playing in the NFL: A Story of Redemption
A series of remarkable coincidences can send any of us to prison for crimes we didn’t commit.
The innocent, a system that put them away, and the people who set them free...
To move away from the death penalty as a country, the public needs be able to see inside the process and understand its effects. Sister Helen Prejean has dedicated much of her...
Forget ads on billboards, buses, and in the Yellow Pages. Building a law practice today requires a new approach.
Shaka Senghor shares insights from his time in prison and discusses his efforts for criminal justice reform.
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