How should a project select students as caseworkers?
Each member innocence project is free to select students in a way to suit them. An application form that might be used is contained in the Innocence Projects Starter pack that is provided to Members. Some of our members accept all students who apply to them. Others ask students to undertake particular tasks such as writing an essay, carrying out a specific piece of research, or producing a reflective account based on two sessions of the student’s choice from the training programme. Staff then look at or mark the work produced to aid selection. Some members arrange for students to informally interview potential new caseworker colleagues and some directors interview the students themselves. The overriding concern is to ensure that potential new recruits understand the importance of the commitment and that casework should not simply be treated as a CV-enhancing brief interlude. Some of our members have had difficulties with students who sign up for casework, and who subsequently do not pu
