Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul is launching a unit to investigate cases in which new evidence could prove the innocence of people convicted of serious crimes. “Wrongful convictions destroy lives.

Raoul on Tuesday announced the creation of a new Conviction Integrity Unit, which will be tasked with investigating claims of actual innocence in violent felony cases where new and credible evidence of innocence has been discovered, or when new technology enables investigators to test or retest old evidence.

The new Conviction Integrity Unit will primarily help state’s attorneys in counties that do not already have offices to investigate potential wrongful convictions.

Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul introduced a new statewide initiative on Tuesday to prevent the 'devastation of wrongful convictions' across the state.