About
A fund for cases where guilt is seriously in doubt.
The Miscarriage of Justice Support Fund Inc. aims to assist people affected by potential miscarriages of justice and the legal representatives acting for them.
Mission
The Fund exists so that a lack of money is not the reason a legitimate case stops. It helps with the legal and paralegal costs of matters it takes on, and it connects people with volunteers who can offer practical assistance.
In the Fund’s usage, a miscarriage of justice is a case in which there is considerable doubt about the guilt of a convicted person, whether or not an appeal court has overturned the conviction. Most such cases never come to light.
Who can ask
- A person who says they have been falsely accused.
- A person who says they have been wrongly convicted.
- A solicitor or barrister acting for that person.
Families often write on someone’s behalf. The Fund will say whether it can assist, and what information it needs. The Fund supports legitimate cases in which the person maintains their innocence.
Voluntary work
All work for the Fund is voluntary. Members and support staff are not paid. The Fund depends on donations. It does not charge the people it assists.
Where the money goes
Proceeds from donations, and from case campaigns, pay legal and paralegal costs. That includes counsel, transcripts, appeal books, and expert or investigative work required for a case. Gifts are not applied to salaries.
Legal status
The Fund is a public benevolent institution with deductible gift recipient status. Donations of $2 or more are tax deductible. The Australian business number published for the Fund is 35 949 140 465.
What the Fund is not
The Fund is not a law firm. It does not provide legal advice, and a gift does not create a lawyer-client relationship. LIA Pro is a separate service operated by FIA Labs. It is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice.