“The development came, in large part, due to the work of three Georgetown University students. They took a closer look at Dixon's case as part of a course for the "Prison Reform Project." The course was taught by Marc Howard, director of the university’s Prisons and Justice Initiative, and Marty Tankleff. Tankleff is Howard's childhood friend who was wrongfully imprisoned for nearly 18 years.”

“A group of undergraduates at Georgetown University have played an instrumental role in freeing Valentino Dixon, a Buffalo, NY man who was wrongfully convicted of murdering a man in 1991. 

On Wednesday, Dixon was freed after more than 26 years in prison, fully exonerated of all murder charges in court. The same day, Lamarr Scott, the man who has repeatedly confessed to the killing on camera since it happened in 1991, pleaded guilty to manslaughter and assault in the death of Torriano Jackson in court.”

“A group of undergraduates in a unique “Prison Reform Project” course have conducted investigations into four murder cases that may one day lead to the release of individuals thought to be wrongfully convicted. Marc Howard, director of the university’s Prisons and Justice Initiative, taught the course with his childhood friend Marty Tankleff, who was wrongfully convicted of murdering his parents and served almost 18 years in several maximum security prisons in New York.”

Marc Howard helped his childhood friend Marty Tankleff get out of prison; in turn Tankleff inspired Howard to embark on a legal career focused on exonerating wrongly imprisoned individuals.

Now, they are now teaching a course at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C., "Making an Exoneree," where they examine the cases of incarcerated men they believe are innocent.