National Center for Reason and Justice Inc

Overview

The National Center for Reason and Justice Inc (NCRJ) is a U.S. nonprofit organization focused on promoting justice by addressing wrongful convictions, particularly those involving allegations of crimes against children. The organization operates under the principles of educating the public and supporting individuals wrongly accused due to crises such as mass hysteria, junk science, and media distortions.

Mission

The mission of the NCRJ is to restore reason to the judicial process by challenging cases where individuals, often from low-income backgrounds, have been wrongly accused and convicted. The organization aims to act as a clearinghouse for information on community crises and biased testimonies that contribute to wrongful convictions.

Activities

• Education and Advocacy: The NCRJ educates the public about the plight of wrongfully accused individuals, focusing on cases involving accusations of harm to children. They also advocate for the rights of those falsely convicted.
• Fiscal Sponsorship: The organization provides fiscal sponsorship for defense funds set up by community groups, allowing donors to make tax-deductible contributions. However, donations restricted to specific individuals are not deductible.
• Public Awareness: The NCRJ helps raise awareness about cases through linking websites related to these cases and providing information at educational events.

Notable Cases

The NCRJ has been involved in several notable cases, including:

• The San Antonio Four: The organization helped in the exoneration of Elizabeth Ramirez, Anna Vasquez, Cassandra Rivera, and Kristie Mayhugh, who were wrongly convicted of child abuse.
• Bernard Baran: NCRJ supported Baran, a gay teacher falsely accused of child abuse, leading to his exoneration after 22 years in prison.
• Victor Rosario: The NCRJ advocated for Rosario, wrongly convicted of arson-murder, highlighting the misuse of junk science in his case.

Current Status

As of recent updates, the NCRJ has decided to cease operations, despite its impactful work over the past two decades in supporting and freeing wrongly convicted individuals.