On April 9, 2012, supporters of the Downstate Illinois Innocence Project gathered at the Crowne Plaza in Springfield to honor award recipients for the past year. The honorees were:

• Scott Turow – Award-winning Attorney & author: for his contributions as an attorney in innocence cases, his tireless work toward the abolition of the flawed death penalty system in Illinois, and his writing, which educates the general public to these issues and enhances understanding of our legal system
• University of Illinois College of Law and the assistance of Professors Steve Beckett and Andy Leipold and their students: for their contributions by working on the Project’s cases
• Southern Illinois University School of Law and the assistance of Professors Bill Schroeder and Chris Behan and their students: for their contributions by working on the Project’s cases