The Jefferson County District Attorney-Birmingham Division has established a Conviction Review Unit (CRU). It is the prosecutor’s duty to protect the innocent before, during and after trial. The prosecutor is to seek truth and justice, not merely obtain convictions.
For a case to be reviewed by the CRU, it must meet ALL of the following requirements:
The conviction must have occurred in Jefferson County-Birmingham Division.
The convicted defendant must be living. The CRU will not review convictions of a person who is deceased.
The conviction must be for a felony offense.
The convicted defendant must be currently incarcerated.
The conviction must not be based on a plea agreement entered into with the State.
The application must be based on new credible and verifiable evidence of actual innocence. Actual innocence means the convicted defendant bore no criminal responsibility for the offense. New evidence means evidence that was not known to the judge and/or jury at the time of the conviction.
The CRU will not attempt to act as a thirteenth juror and reweigh evidence.
The CRU will not consider requests for review while any appeal, petition, or writ is pending in court. If during CRU review an appeal, writ, or petition is filed, the conviction review process will be halted until the Court makes a determination on the new filing.
A person may only see review after a final judgment of conviction has been entered and a sentence imposed.
The CRU retains the discretion to review any case if it is in the interest of justice to do so.
Any request coming from a convicted defendant or one from someone on behalf of a convicted defendant must include the convicted defendant’s written approval of the request, including a completed Conviction Review Request Questionnaire Form provided by the CRU.
If your case meets ALL of the above requirements, please click the link below and follow the instructions to submit your application:
ALL COMMUNICATION WILL BE IN WRITING. PLEASE DO NOT CALL OR HAVE ANYONE CALL THE JEFFERSON COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY’S OFFICE – BIRMINGHAM DIVISION.
