Our Research

Exonerated Nation is engaged in ongoing community-driven research focused on the health, healing, and lived experiences of exonerees.

These collaborative projects center exonerees as active research partners, helping to shape research agendas, inform public health approaches, and translate data into action that supports advocacy, wellness, and systemic change for wrongfully convicted individuals and their communities.

A partnership-driven approach to exoneree support programs and capacity building

By Carly Strouse, Reyna Hernandez, Obie Anthony, Nemesia Kelly, and Gayle B. Cummings

People who are wrongfully convicted and later exonerated often face re-entry without the institutional support systems available to other formerly incarcerated individuals, making their transition especially isolating and complex. This paper presents the development of adapted social support tools specifically designed for exonerees through a community-academic partnership. The findings highlight the critical role of strong support networks, with insights informing new programs incorporating family inclusion, peer support, re-entry mentorship and healing-centered programs.

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Virtual Reality Study for Exonerees: A Usability Study

Presented at the 17th Academic & Health Policy Conference on Correctional Health, 2024

This study aims to assess the usability of Virtual Reality (VR) technology as a novel intervention tool for formerly incarcerated exonerees who have experienced the irreversible trauma of wrongful incarceration.

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In a rising tide of exonerations resulting from wrongful convictions, our research is important to gaining awareness of unique reentry needs associated with trauma.

Our Project COPE Team presented their research findings at the 15th Annual Academic and Health Policy Conference on Criminal Justice Health in April 2022, and at the 16th Annual Conference held April 13-14, 2023.

View the 2022 presentation here:
ACCJH COPE Presentation_April 2022

Participatory research to address mental health and coping needs among the wrongfully convicted

Presented at the Annual American Public Health Association Meeting and Expo, 2021

After years of wrongful incarceration, many exonerees receive little to no government assistance, are denied access to reentry services, and face homelessness, joblessness, chronic illness, and the lasting psychological trauma of wrongful conviction.

Project COPE explores the mental health coping mechanisms of California exonerees while building leadership and research capacity by engaging exonerees as active partners in the study’s development and implementation.

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What Promotes healing among the wrongfully convicted? Results from a qualitative study of exonerated persons in California

Exonerees are individuals who have been wrongfully convicted of a crime. Later found innocent and released from prison, exonerees often spend decades incarcerated. While limited, research suggests that the unique trauma of wrongful conviction has profound adverse mental health implications which challenge reintegration, well-being and healing. In this study we examined exoneree perceptions of their mental health and coping mechanisms used to support healing.

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Health & Well-Being Project

In partnership with Exonerated Nation, Touro University California’s Public Health Program conducted a qualitative study to assess the health status and needs of California exonerees for immediate and long-term support in the fall of 2017.

Why is this project important?

An estimated 2.3 million individuals are incarcerated in the U.S., so one might wonder why we are choosing to focus on the unique experiences of exonerees. We believe that by shining a light on the plight of exonerees, we can also draw attention to the public health problems associated with mass incarceration in the U.S. Anyone incarcerated in the U.S. experiences personal trauma, which also impacts their families and communities. The negative impacts of incarceration on exonerees are exacerbated by having served time for crimes they did not commit. This again points to problems in how the U.S. criminal justice system operates, and we hope that our work with exonerees will not only improve their post-incarceration experiences, but also create networks and galvanize support of new allies to discuss the changes needed to reform the criminal justice system as a whole.

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Co-Authored Publications & Co-Presentations

Co-authored Publications

Cummings, G., Kelly, N., Hernandez, A., Lingas, E., Strouse, C., & Anthony, O. (2021). What Promotes healing among the wrongfully convicted? Results from a qualitative study of exonerated persons in California. Social Determinants of Health, 7(1), 1-13. https://doi.org/10.22037/sdh.v7i1.35582
Strouse, C., Hernandez, R., Anthony, O., Kelly, N., & Cummings, G. B. (2026). A partnership-driven approach to exoneree support programs and capacity building. Journal of Community Safety and Well-Being, 11(1), 44–52. https://doi.org/10.35502/jcswb.485.
Kelly, N. P., Cummings, G., Hernandez, R. I., Hernandez, A. L., Anthony, O. (Forthcoming). California Exoneree Health and Well-Being Study. In T. Van Camp (Ed.), Support for People Affected by Wrongful Convictions. Routledge. (Manuscript in preparation for August 2026 submission).
Cummings, G., Strouse, C., Anthony, O., Kelly, N. P., Hernandez, R. I. (Forthcoming). Community-Based Participatory Research (CBPR) & Project COPE. In T. Van Camp, (Ed.), Support for People Affected by Wrongful Convictions. Routledge. (Manuscript in preparation for August 2026 submission).

Co-Presentations:

Kelly, N., Cummings, G., Anthony, O., Lee, A., McMath, A., & Codella, K. (2025, July 13–16). Virtual reality for exonerees: A path to healing and connection [Conference presentation]. 7th International Conference on Law Enforcement and Public Health, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
Anthony, O., Cummings, G., Kelly, N., Lee, A., McMath, A., & Codella, K. (2025, April 3–5). Exonerated Nation-Virtual reality: A path to healing and connection [Conference presentation]. Innocence Network Conference, Seattle, WA, United States.
Cummings, G., Anthony, O., Lee, A., Kelly, N., McMath, A., & Codella, K. (2024, April 10–12). Virtual reality study for exonerees: A usability study—Phase 1 [Conference presentation]. 17th Academic Consortium on Criminal Justice Health Academic and Health Policy Conference on Correctional Health, Phoenix, AZ, United States.
Cummings, G., Strouse, C., Anthony, O., Peralta, M., Johnson, Z., & Killian, G., & Kelly, N. (2023, April 13–14). Coping to buffer traumatic experiences among people experiencing wrongful conviction and re-entry [Conference presentation]. 16th Academic Consortium on Criminal Justice Health Academic and Health Policy Conference on Correctional Health, Raleigh, NC, United States.
Anthony, O., Johnson Z, & Cummings G. (2021, October 24-27). Participatory action research to address mental health and coping needs among the wrongfully convicted [Conference presentation] American Public Health Association, Online.
Kelly, N., Cummings, G., Lingas, E., Hernandez, A., & Anthony, O. (2021, April 8–10). Replacing the state: The role of post-conviction attorneys in the post-incarceration lives of California’s exonerees [Conference presentation]. 14th Academic Consortium on Criminal Justice Health, Online.
Strouse, C., Cummings, G., Kelly, N., & Anthony, O. (2021, April 8–10). Assessing social support among wrongfully convicted adults: An exploratory study [Conference presentation]. Academic Consortium on Criminal Justice Health, Online.
Cummings, G., Strouse, C., Johnson, Z., Killian, G., Anthony, O., & Kelly, N. (2021, April 8–10). Mental health coping strategies among California exonerees: A participatory research study [Conference presentation]. Academic Consortium on Criminal Justice Health, Online.
Cummings, G., Kelly, N., Hernandez, A., & Lingas, E., & Anthony, O. (2020, November). Non-clinical measures to support the mental and emotional health of wrongfully convicted exonerees [Conference presentation]. American Public Health Association.
Cummings, G., Kelly, N., Hernandez, A., & Lingas, E., & Anthony, O. (2019, October 21–23). Peer support and engagement in advocacy opportunities: Key elements for the mental and emotional health of exonerees [Conference presentation]. Fifth International Conference on Law Enforcement and Public Health, Edinburgh, Scotland.
Kelly, N., Cummings, G., Hernandez, A., Lingas, E., & Anthony, O. (2019, October 21–23). Replacing the state: The role of post-conviction attorneys in the post-incarceration lives of California’s exonerees [Conference presentation]. LEPH 2019: Fifth International Conference on Law Enforcement and Public Health, Edinburgh, Scotland.
Kelly, N., Cummings, G., Lingas, E., Hernandez, A., Anthony, O., & Dunklee, C. (2018, April). California exonerees health and well-being project: Assessing the mental, physical, and emotional health of the wrongfully convicted [Poster abstract]. 17th Annual Research Day at Touro University California.
Kelly, N., Cummings, G., Lingas, E., Hernandez, A., & Anthony, O., & Dunklee, C. (2018, October 21–24). California exonerees health and well-being project: Assessing the mental, physical, and emotional health of the wrongfully convicted [Conference presentation]. Fourth International Conference on Law Enforcement and Public Health, Toronto, Canada

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WE NEED PEOPLE LIKE YOU! BE PART OF THE SOLUTION.

Exonerated Nation is a growing organization and we’re calling on you to help us meet the needs of exonerees. Here are three ways to support us: Make a tax-deductible donation to EN. Invite an exoneree to speak to your school or organization. Organize an event to educate your friends about wrongful convictions . Donate your gently used computers, cell phones, and clothing.