Last week, Montana Innocence Project board member Lynda Bourque Moss, Executive Director Amy Sings In The Timber, Communications Associate Ashley Miller, and freed client Bernard (Bernie) Pease Jr. traveled to Seattle, WA, for the 2025 Innocence Network Conference.
The Innocence Network is a coalition of over 70 innocence organizations committed to fighting wrongful convictions worldwide. Each year, the Innocence Network hosts a conference to bring together impacted individuals, their supportive family members and friends, and innocence advocates from across the globe. Over 1,230 people were united in community at the event, including 345 freed and exonerated people.
For Bernie, this trip marked a significant personal milestone—his second ever airplane ride, and his first conference and out-of-state trip since his release in January 2024, after nearly 40 years of wrongful incarceration.
“This conference was an experience of a lifetime,” Bernie reflected. “I was on cloud nine the entire time.”
The conference promotes an opportunity for learning, growth, and connection through educational programming, relationship-building, collective empowerment, and a space for healing.
“In this moment when long-established judicial systems and norms are under attack, and funding for the critical work we do is uncertain at best, it was more important than ever that impacted individuals and practitioners were able to gather together for the purpose of envisioning a better way.” MTIP Executive Director Amy Sings In The Timber shared. “The Innocence Network Conference provides time and space to strategize, innovate, collaborate, and, most importantly, to celebrate the lives and freedom of the remarkable people we have had the privilege to work for.”
Throughout the conference our staff attended educational sessions on a diverse array of critical topics including case intake and investigation, post-conviction litigation, post-release/reentry support, trauma-informed best practices, race and wrongful conviction, forensic science and social science, community outreach and engagement, etc.
“I attended sessions on the use of AI in streamlining and advancing our work, considerations in policy advocacy and reforms, bridging innocence work and work to develop community-driven alternatives to punishment and incarceration, and a session on art as activism for social change,” Amy said. “Each of the sessions I attended offered some practical tools and insights, as well as inspiration. Hearing from directly impacted people about the changes they believe have the greatest potential to bring about justice and healing was most valuable to my learning and growth.”
The conference allowed staff to network with partner organizations, fostering collaboration and the exchange of innovative ideas to strategize around challenges and strengthen our advocacy efforts.
“This was my first conference, and I was so impressed with the wide variety of breakout sessions offered to attendees,” MTIP Communications Associate Ashley Miller shared. “It was amazing to see the network prioritize client-centered and client-led conversations about restorative justice and healing. One session that was very impactful for me was led by a panel of freed and exonerated women who were able to share their unique experiences and acknowledge the trauma and losses specific to women who are wrongfully incarcerated. Hearing their stories was truly inspiring and left me with a better perspective of how to support these women in our community. Overall, it was an amazing experience to be able to connect with impacted individuals and other organizations to share ideas and learn new insights to apply to the work that we do.”
Another first-time attendee, MTIP board member Lynda Bourque Moss, also shared her thoughts on the impact of attending the panel discussion “Hear Our Voices: Freed and Exonerated Women Speak Out.” “The session was standing room only,” Lynda said. “Listening to the five women share their experiences as mothers who served 10, 20, or even 25 years before being exonerated was difficult to hear. The panelists’ stories were heart-wrenching. One woman stated, ‘No one sees us,’ while others added, ‘I couldn’t be myself; I was invisible.’ Questions like ‘What do I do now? What is my next step?’ and ‘How can I be a mother now?’ echoed in the room. The women each wore masks to illustrate the challenges they faced upon returning to their families and communities. I found myself in awe, inspired, and profoundly distressed by the systemic injustices in our society. I left that session and the 2025 conference with a deeper understanding of the important work of the Montana Innocence Project.”
In one of the most powerful moments of the weekend, freed and exonerated individuals in attendance were called to the stage one-by-one to be acknowledged and celebrated by the Innocence Network community. Bernie stood among them for the first time, embracing his peers and standing together in solidarity under the stage lights, greeted by a standing ovation. Together, they served more than 5,500 years for crimes they did not commit.
“Getting up on that stage and seeing my name on the big screen, I felt like all my worries were washed away,” Bernie said. “Everyone was clapping and gave me a standing ovation. It was a moment I’ll never forget.”
Another highlight of our time in Seattle was the opportunity to explore the vibrant city. Bernie had a chance to visit Pike’s Place Market, eat fish and chips at a local restaurant, and walk along the waterfront.
“Another favorite memory was walking around the different shops at Pike’s Place and seeing the ferris wheel down at the pier,” Bernie said.
We also attended The Moth storytelling performance featuring narratives from ten freed and exonerated individuals, and the closing celebration at the Seattle Art Museum, which showcased a virtual display of art and craftwork created by freed and exonerated community members. Several of Bernie’s art pieces were digitally displayed for the community to view.
“It was amazing to be in community with Bernie for his first conference and see him light up with joy surrounded by his peers,” Ashley said. “I will carry the memories and things I learned this past weekend with me for the rest of my life. This conference was so inspiring, and showed me that despite the obstacles we face, there is incredible power in the strength of community and fueling the collective movement towards change.”
Reflecting on the experience, Amy shared,“It was pure joy to watch Bernie be welcomed into the community and make genuine connections with his brothers and sisters in the movement. Seeing him take the stage as a first-time attendee and be celebrated for the amazing person that he is was the best. A close second was the way he beamed when his art was displayed at the Seattle Art Museum closing celebration.”
For MTIP staff members, the conference was an inspiring and nourishing event that reinforced our commitment to justice and left us ready to continue the work ahead. MTIP looks forward to attending the conference next year in Chicago, IL.
To see more photos from the conference, head over to our Instagram @Bigskyinnocence!