DATELINE INVESTIGATION

Jon-Adrian Velazquez, convicted of murdering a retired NYPD officer in 1997, is serving 25 years to life. But a 15-year Dateline investigation has revealed eyewitness recantations and most recently withheld evidence that outlines Velazquez's innocence!

Watch the Dateline Investigative Report, "Conviction" by Dan Slepian

Listen to the Wrongful Conviction with Jason Flom Podcast

Sign the Petition

[LATEST UPDATE] January 18, 2018: Jon-Adrian appeared court, the hearing consisted of oral arguments that will continue on paper over the next couple of months. His legal counsel did a fantastic job of reminding the Judge and the ADA that he is not inmate 00A2303 - he is Jon-Adrian Velazquez, father, son, mentor, leader and the second victim of this crime. We will be back in court in April as the legal wrangling continues, until then we will fight for Jon-Adrian and his family any way we can. Check our Facebook for updates!

[HEARING UPDATE] January 18, 2018 at 2:00pm: Jon-Adrian will be in court, in person for a hearing that could have bearing on his freedom! We need your SUPPORT! We have been delayed 4 times. Let this be the moment we've been waiting for! Check our Facebook event for the latest news and updates.

[BREAKING NEWS] November 4, 2017: Earlier this week, The Manhattan DA's office once again, turned over documents critical to Jon-Adrian's case that were NOT supplied to his original defense council. Due to this unprecedented turn of events, JJ's legal team made the sound choice to delay the November 16th hearing until December 7th. Momentum towards freedom for Jon-Adrian is increasing and we are all tremendously hopeful that this development is just one more step in that direction. We will keep everyone updated as more information becomes available. Follow us on facebook for details.

[BREAKING NEWS] June 27, 2017: After Manhattan DA Cyrus Vance repeatedly rejects the innocence plea of Jon-Adrian Velazquez, his legal team counters with a 440 motion to vacate a wrongful conviction based on intentionally withheld evidence! See details below.

[BREAKING NEWS] June 27, 2017: After Manhattan DA Cyrus Vance repeatedly rejects the innocence plea of Jon-Adrian Velazquez, his legal team counters with a 440 motion to vacate a wrongful conviction based on withheld evidence that outlines his innocence! Download PDF Flyer

Theme: Creating Healthy Communities
Location: Sing-Sing Correctional Facility

Jon-Adrian's Tedx Event was a success! The final program will be available online soon! Check out the New York Times Article!

Jon-Adrian is now a college graduate! We are all so proud. If he can accomplish this on the inside, imagine what he can do on the outside. Click Here to see his graduation that was attended by Whoopi Goldberg and Harry Belefonte.

Dateline NBC was nominated for three News and Documentary Emmy Awards. Click Here to watch 'Conviction,' which was nominated for 'Best Report in a News Magazine,' 'Outstanding Video Journalism' and 'Outstanding Editing.'

[BREAKING NEWS] May 2, 2013: After Manhattan DA Cyrus Vance rejects innocence plea of Jon-Adrian Velazquez, his legal team counters with a 440 motion to vacate a wrongful conviction! View the 440 Memo of Law presented by Jon-Adrian's attorneys here.

[BREAKING NEWS] May 6, 2013: Blind-Justice.org creates support campaign for Jon-Adrian after his 440 filing. View the Blind-Justice.Org campaign here.

[BREAKING NEWS]April 4, 2013: Despite eyewitness recantations and the confession of another individual, Manhattan DA Cyrus Vance rejects innocence plea of Jon Adrian Velazquez in 1998 Harlem murder. View the announcement from Jon-Adrian's attorneys here.

[BREAKING NEWS]April 6, 2013: Manhattan DA keeps high-profile murder conviction intact after review. By Dan Slepian Investigative Producer, NBC News. View Dan's article here.

Feb 2, 2013: Jeffrey Deskovic, wrongfully convicted, now exonerated, talks about his life's work to FREE the victims of wrongful convictions on 99.5 WBAI FM. Download the MP3 here.

A man wrongfully convicted, now exonerated, talks about his life's work to FREE the victims of wrongful convictions. Download the MP3 here.

Every day Mr. Velazquez spends incarcerated is a miscarriage of justice and grossly undermines any true concept of American justice becauseJon-Adrian Velazquez is actually an innocent man.

Jon-Adrian Velazquez was wrongfully convicted based solely on eyewitness misidentification. There is no physical or DNA evidence against Mr. Velazquez.

He is an innocent man.

Jon-Adrian Velazquez sits in an upstate prison wrongfully convicted of murder. Mr. Velazquez has lost fourteen years of his life after a jury convicted him of murder in the second degree on nothing more than eyewitness identifications.