Our Process & Update Policy
What to Expect at Every Stage of Your Loved One’s Case
At Conviction Integrity Group, we don’t believe in guesswork, vague promises, or “black box” investigations. Every Comprehensive Case Rebuild and Jury Investigation follows a clear, structured process designed to be thorough, transparent, and focused on results.
Below is exactly what you can expect from us – and when you can expect to hear from us.
Stage 1: Beginning
(Retainer, Paperwork & Case Setup)
Your case officially begins once:
All paperwork is signed, and
The agreed-upon financial arrangements are in place.
At this point, we:
Open your case in our system,
Send a Document Release to the inmate,
Assign it a case number, and
Move it into the Document Collections phase.
Updates you can expect at this stage:
A confirmation email/text that your case has been opened,
A brief outline of what will happen next via email.
Stage 2: Document Collection
(Building the Foundation of the Case)
This stage is all about one thing: getting every record we possibly can.
Our Document Collection Team’s job is to gather and organize all of the materials needed to rebuild the case from the ground up, including:
Court records and clerk files,
Trial and hearing transcripts,
Discovery from prior counsel, (when available)
Police reports, lab reports, and forensic records,
Medical records, autopsy reports, and expert reports, (if applicable)
Prior writs, appeals, motions, and rulings,
Any additional materials from the client or family,
We use a combination of:
Formal discovery requests,
Requests through our staff attorney, and
FOIA/Open Records requests to courts, prosecutors, and law enforcement agencies.
This stage is critical. A weak record means a weak case. We don’t move forward until we have either obtained the necessary documents or confirmed that certain records simply do not exist or cannot be obtained.
Updates you can expect at this stage:
A notification when document collection begins,
Notice when the Document Collection Team has completed their work and case is moving to the next stage: “Ready for Investigator.”
Stage 3: “Ready for Investigator”
(Queued for the Next Available Investigator)
Once the records are collected and organized, your case is moved to the “Ready for Investigator” stage.
This means:
The case file is complete (or as complete as reasonably possible),
It is waiting for the next available investigator to pick it up.
Because our investigators are thorough and hands-on, there can sometimes be a wait here. It may take a month or two, depending on:
How many cases are ahead in line, and
How quickly other investigations are being completed.
We will not rush or cut corners on another client’s case just to move the line faster — and we won’t do that to your loved one either. Every case deserves our full attention, and we treat them all with the same level of care and seriousness.
Updates you can expect at this stage:
A notification when the case moves into “Ready for Investigator,”
A notification as soon as the case is assigned to a specific investigator.
Stage 4: Assigned to Investigator
(Collaboration & Deeper Case Work Begins)
This is where things become much more interactive and collaborative.
Once your case is assigned to an investigator, they will:
Review the Entire Case File
They study all the documents collected.
The goal is to understand the case inside and out: facts, timelines, witnesses, prior strategy, and potential issues.
Reach Out to the Inmate
We schedule a call with your loved one (usually through the law library or approved communication system).
This allows the investigator to hear the story directly, clarify details, and build rapport before the bulk of the investigation occurs.
Reach Out to Family & Key Contacts
We contact you (and any other relevant people you identify: family, friends, witnesses, etc.).
This call serves two purposes:
To introduce the investigator and explain our process, and
To give you a chance to share any information, concerns, or leads that may not be in the official record.
Refine the Plan
Based on what we learn from the records, the inmate, and the family, we identify our targets:
Ineffective Assistance of Counsel
Constitutional Violations
Factual/Actual Innocence issues
Witnesses to contact
Affidavits to obtain
Experts or additional records we may need
Updates you can expect at this stage:
Direct communication from the assigned investigator, and
Scheduling of calls with the inmate and with you.
Stage 5: Final Investigation & Report Delivery
(Findings, Strategy, and Blueprint for Relief)
Once the investigator has completed the necessary work — including witness interviews, affidavits, record analysis, and issue development — we move into the reporting and final review phase.
This includes:
Internal Final Report Draft
The investigator documents what was investigated, what was found, and which issues are most important.
All relevant notes, exhibits, and affidavits are organized and attached.
Follow-Up with Inmate & Family
We schedule another call with your loved one and, where appropriate, with you.
We review the key findings and make sure no major issues have been overlooked.
If there is something you or the inmate still believe needs attention, we address it here.
Sometimes we may explain why a particular area wasn’t pursued (for example, because it wouldn’t affect the legal outcome) — but we make sure you understand the reasoning.
Final Summary Report
We create a comprehensive, attorney-ready report that includes:
A clear summary of the facts and history of the case,
Identified Ineffective Assistance of Counsel issues,
Any Constitutional Violations,
Factual/Actual Innocence evidence or concerns,
Supporting exhibits and affidavits,
A recommended path forward (for example: file an 11.07 writ of habeas corpus, seek an evidentiary hearing, pursue new testing, etc.).
This report is designed to be a blueprint for an attorney to use in filing and litigating the case in court.
Delivery to Client & Counsel
Once finalized, we deliver the report to you and/or the attorney you choose to retain.
If requested, we’re available to consult with that attorney to walk them through the findings and strategy.
Updates you can expect at this stage:
Notification when investigation is substantially complete,
Scheduling of final review calls with the inmate and family,
Delivery of the final report, along with an explanation of the next recommended legal steps.
Our Commitment to Communication
We understand that waiting is hard — especially when your loved one’s freedom is on the line. While we don’t rush our work, we do commit to:
Notifying you at each stage change,
Being available to answer reasonable questions about where things stand. Please remember that we do not provide updates outside of this policy outline. However, we remain committed to making sure that you are comfortable throughout the process in case you have any unanswered questions not covered here.
We won’t promise you exact dates we can’t control. But we will promise you this:
When we’re working on your case, your loved one gets the full weight, attention, and resources of our team — the same level of effort we would want if it were our own family member behind bars.