Marla Mitchell-Cichon has had compassion for wrongfully convicted prisoners for most of her career.
“(The prisoners) have missed the prime time of their life to develop as a citizen in the community,” she said. “It affects all of us. People from every walk of life have been wrongfully convicted, and the more people learn about why it happens and how it can be prevented, the better.”
Mitchell-Cichon, who is a professor at the Thomas M. Cooley Law School, 300 S. Capitol Ave., in Lansing, and works with the Cooley Law Innocence Project, is working to educate the public about the problem. She collaborated on part of the group with producer Bert Goldstein to bring Lansing-based Stormfield Theatre’s production of the play “The Exonerated” to MSU on Friday.
The play, which will premiere at 8 p.m. at Wharton Center, details the true stories of six prisoners who wrongfully were convicted of a crime and the paths they take to achieve innocence.
“The play really takes a long, hard look at the criminal justice system and gives proof that some people who are in prison really shouldn’t be,” Goldstein said.
Following the performance, members of the Cooley Law School Innocence Project, a group that aims to educate people about the widespread issue of wrongful accusation in the federal courts and show them what can be done to change and prevent it, will answer the audience’s questions about the topic.
Mitchell-Cichon said the play helps the issue of wrongful conviction hit closer to home.
“When you see the social justice issues, it’s easy to talk about it with people, but when you see a face to the story, you realize pretty much anyone is at risk for being wrongfully convicted,” she said. “They’re the kinds of stories people can relate to.”
Cooley Law junior Renee Birtles, who is involved with the Innocence Project, said she hopes the play will inform audiences about common issues in the court system and inspire change.
“I think it will educate people and help them realize that some prisoners are innocent, and they need help in different ways,” she said. “It takes years and years for evidence to come into play at times, and it’s a way to let the audience know about the problems in our system so they can take a step back and change things.”
Mitchell-Cichon hopes the play will be the first step to giving innocent prisoners their lives back.
“The more the public is aware of, the more support goes into legislation to create preventative measures for this,” she said. “It’s not a disease with no cure.”
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