Welcome to Innocence Maintained
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Innocence Maintained
Aaron’s Story
Aunt Bobbi’s House
Innocence Maintained…
“Residence, Resources, and Renewal”
Aaron Salter has a vision that no exoneree will stand alone. After being released from serving 15 years in prison for a crime he didn’t commit, he founded the nonprofit organization, Innocence Maintained.
Aaron’s Story
“We Are Better, Not Bitter”
Aaron Salter’s story is not unlike many youth who grew up in the city of Detroit to a single mom. Struggling to make ends meet while raising two boys on a social worker’s salary, Aaron was often left to his own devices. By the time he was 12 or 13 years old, he had been arrested for truancy, violating curfew…
Aunt Bobbi’s House:
“Treating exonerees with humanity!”
Aunt Bobbi’s house is designed to be a residential assisted living facility for recent male exonerees. This safe haven is intended to foster independence by providing a temporary home where each resident will have responsibilities…
Innocence Maintained – Can’t Do It Alone
By Working Together we can make the transition smoother for many exonerees who often struggle to get their life on track. Many factors come into play in this complex process. At Innocence Maintained, we can anticipate and help meet the challenges of the residents as they are confronted with finding employment, a drivers license, job training, medical care, forming new relationships, getting back in touch with family, to name a few. Currently, there are a variety of immediate needs; we need community support to fulfill the wish list and bring Aaron’s vision for Innocence Maintained to life. For a complete list of needs, click here. We hope you feel as passionate about this cause as we do… every donation helps us provide for their future. While we can’t go back in time, we can look forward and find ways to bring new beginnings to those so richly deserving of a new start.
Get Involved
Become a sponsor for one of these important projects on our wish list.
Contact Us to support Innocence Maintained.
Sponsor a Resident
Help us get a new exoneree on their feet. Items needed immediately are clothing, toiletries, food, a cell phone, transportation, etc. If you’d like to support monthly expenses, we can show you how.
On the Job Training
Do you have a business that can provide on the job training for a newly exonerated individual? Most are without any skills, are eager to learn and need an income. Ask us how you can get on our approved business list.
Computer/Social Media Literacy
Learn the basics of using a computer for everything from job searches to online banking and bill pay. How to use mobile devices, social media and the internet, will be a key part of the training. Want to sponsor this program?
Peer Support
Spending time in prison, especially when you are innocent, can lead to bitterness and an inability to trust other individuals or institutions. At Innocence Maintained our hope is to launch a regular peer support group for exonerees. Interested in helping get this off the ground?
Financial Literacy
At Innocence Maintained, we believe that exonerees need tools to find success once they re-enter life outside of prison. That includes learning how to bank, manage money, pay bills and more. Please support this program.
Next Steps
To Sponsor a Project, an Exoneree or Innocence Maintained, Contact Us.
F.A.Q.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Innocence Maintained? How did it get Started?
Innocence Maintained is a 501(c)(3) founded by Aaron Salter, with the help of countless others, to support those who were wrongly convicted and exonerees looking to rebuild their life. Aaron was released on his 36th birthday after spending 15 years in prison for a murder he didn’t commit. He struggled to find permanent housing. He slept on couches and stayed in a motel with family before the state compensated him for being wrongly imprisoned. Then, using money from his own compensation, Aaron purchased and refurbished a house where those re-entering communities could find a safe haven to begin to rebuild their lives.
How Many Innocent People are there in Prison?
The Innocence Project has estimated that between 2.3 percent and 5 percent of all US prisoners are innocent. With the number of incarcerated Americans being approximately 2.4 million, by that estimate as many as 120,000 people may be incarcerated as a result of wrongful conviction. Source: The Innocence Project /Wikipedia, Miscarriage of justice
How is Innocence Maintained different from Innocence Network organizations?
The Innocence Network organizations provide pro bono legal and investigative services to individuals seeking to prove innocence for crimes of which they have been convicted, and work to redress the causes of wrongful conviction. Innocence Maintained is a highly focused post-exoneration program designed to provide the three “R’s”, Residence, Resources and Renewal.
How is Innocence Maintained Funded?
As a nonprofit, Innocence Maintained is funded through grants, individual donations and corporate and community support.
How Can I Get Involved?
We are always looking for volunteers and those who want to give in some way, either by making a financial donation or by supplying something Bobbi’s House needs. We also have opportunities to sponsor a program.
Why is There a Lion in the Innocence Maintained Logo?
Aaron’s astrological sign is Leo – fierce, protect and strong. This organization is fiercely protective and loyal to its community. The strength that Aaron demonstrates is inspiring to others and will build up those who come for help whether it’s for a meal, legal resources, or a place to stay within the four walls at Aunt Bobbi’s house.