Post-Conviction Justice Project

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Collage of Charles photographs with Ashely and the dogs from Trojan Family Magazine

Heidi Rummel, co-director of the Post-Conviction Justice Project, in a meeting with then-student Alex Kirkpatrick (JD 2017) and client Marvin Mutch. With PCJP’s representation, Mutch won parole after serving 40 years in prison for a crime he did not commit.

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For nearly 40 years, PCJP has been tirelessly advocating for persons who are incarcerated.

The Post-Conviction Justice Project at USC Gould School of Law fights for second chances — through parole representation, parole-readiness workshops in prisons, courtroom representation and legislative advocacy.

A clinical program directed by professors Heidi Rummel and Michael Brennan with certified law student interns, PCJP works with men and women — many sentenced to life-terms for crimes committed in their youth over 20 or 30 years ago. Since 2008, PCJP has co-sponsored or written nearly every juvenile justice bill in California, impacting tens of thousands of lives.

News

Alumni Spotlight: Nina Rosser (’21)

While a student with PCJP, Nina won a hard-fought appeal in California's First District Court of Appeal pertaining to juvenile culpability and the felony-murder law in California.

Taking the Lead

Through litigation and, most broadly, through legislation, PCJP has led the way toward hope for incarcerated youth. Since 2008, PCJP has written or co-sponsored nearly every juvenile justice bill in...

Tall black woman holding microphone, seated in a chair next to older white man, speaking into microphone

Compassion and Transformation

Former PCJP client and transgender rights advocate Celia Perez and Homeboy Industries founder Father Gregory Boyle shared stories of boundless compassion and healing before a captivated audience at Newman Hall...

Pardon Granted!

We are so excited to share that on January 13, 2022, Governor Gavin Newsom issued “a full and unconditional pardon”...

William (second from right) with his family after his release.

From Hopeless to Free

Post-Conviction Justice Project changes lives of two clients By Lauren Rogers and Heidi Rummel Students in the Post-Conviction Justice Project,...

Charles holding a dog.

Healed Through a Love of Dogs — and the People Who Believed in Him

Twenty-two years into a life sentence for a crime committed as a teen, a former gang member found hope with...

At a Glance

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Clients Assisted

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Life-Term Clients Released

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Law Students and Alumni

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Workshops in 20 Prisons

“We believe in the power of hope.”

Heidi Rummel

Co-Director

Experiential Learning

“Law school classes taught me to think like an attorney, but PCJP made me an attorney.”

— Alex Hurd, JD 2016