HTHCV XONR8
A collaboration between HTHCV & the CIP
Every Fall, HTHCV 11th graders partner with the California Innocence Project (CIP) to review evidence from felony cases submitted to the CIP in order to determine if the inmate was wrongfully convicted. Our team models our investigation process off of the law students from the California Western School of Law. The project culminates with students presenting their succinct analysis and recommendation for either picking up or closing the case to the CIP staff and lawyers. This project provides students with the opportunity to conduct real, authentic work in their community while getting a firsthand experience with what it's like to work in law.
Student Reflections
Did XONR8 change your viewpoint of the criminal justice system?
"It helped me understand how hard and restless it is to handle everything, the crime, the evidence and how you have to look for little details because it could change everything." -Sebastian Paredes, 11th grade student
"I feel that XONR8 changed the way I view our world today, this project really changed me and the way I view crimes." -Abril Estrada, 11th grade student
"It changed my view because I feel like opinions can get in the way of choices. For example, hearing cases that included gang members I would automatically assume they did it. That is why I think so many people are wrongfully convicted. This project also made me realize that lawyers are not always given all of the information that is necessary to defend their client." Alyssa Ramirez, 11th grade student
"It made me realize how literal things are. I always hated the idea of wrongful convictions and could never understand why it was happening. This project was especially relevant this year. But this project gave me a lot of new perspectives and information especially when listening to serial. I learned how easily a perspective can be morphed. It was amazing." -Camie Del Rosario
"I feel that XONR8 changed the way I view our world today, this project really changed me and the way I view crimes." -Abril Estrada, 11th grade student
"It changed my view because I feel like opinions can get in the way of choices. For example, hearing cases that included gang members I would automatically assume they did it. That is why I think so many people are wrongfully convicted. This project also made me realize that lawyers are not always given all of the information that is necessary to defend their client." Alyssa Ramirez, 11th grade student
"It made me realize how literal things are. I always hated the idea of wrongful convictions and could never understand why it was happening. This project was especially relevant this year. But this project gave me a lot of new perspectives and information especially when listening to serial. I learned how easily a perspective can be morphed. It was amazing." -Camie Del Rosario
What will you remember most about the XONR8 project?
"All the work that we did and information we had to look through, but mainly how proud I felt of myself when the lawyer congratulated me and said how much High Tech High students inspire her; I felt so proud of my work and how I helped such an incredible organization like the California Innocence Project, and I hope that I can have an internship with them and maybe work with them again in the future, either during college or after." -Ilse Uribe Perez, 11th grade student
"The bond being created throughout the whole team, my panel in 2G and especially my group. I can't express how happy I was after we had finished knowing we all tried our best and we pulled through even when we all felt our lives were crumbling down the day before and day of exhibition. So thank you XONR8 and Ms.Mackenzie for this unique experience I will appreciate forever." -Crisdeana Sivila-Minicucci, 11th grade student
"Something I will remember most about XONR8 is that we had the ability to change peoples' lives." Brina Hallett, 11th grade student
"Presenting in front of the CIP is probably never gonna leave my memories. It gave me a lot of mix emotions about the justice system. I learned a lot during our process of presenting. So in general this whole project is something I won't forget. Watching serial is gonna be a fun memory. Watching it while eating cereal was booth a great morning and a fun activity. It was fun to get the presentation over with and a great relief to finally get it done. In the end this was a great project in my 4 years at HTHCV." Ryelan Gillispie, 11th grade student
"What I will remember the most about XONR8 will be [my client's] words repeating in my head, saying that he is innocent and has a family; that he would never risk anything for them. I do truly believe he is innocent and the chance of maybe getting him out of prison could be gone..." Calixta Padilla, 11th grade student
"Something I will remember most about XONR8 is how well my group and I presented. We were all so confident, we knew our case, we were all on the same page, no one was left behind, we all had an equal amount of participation (the list can go on) but I am so proud of us and I will definitely always remember presenting at the law school" Victor Guarneros-Amarillas
"The bond being created throughout the whole team, my panel in 2G and especially my group. I can't express how happy I was after we had finished knowing we all tried our best and we pulled through even when we all felt our lives were crumbling down the day before and day of exhibition. So thank you XONR8 and Ms.Mackenzie for this unique experience I will appreciate forever." -Crisdeana Sivila-Minicucci, 11th grade student
"Something I will remember most about XONR8 is that we had the ability to change peoples' lives." Brina Hallett, 11th grade student
"Presenting in front of the CIP is probably never gonna leave my memories. It gave me a lot of mix emotions about the justice system. I learned a lot during our process of presenting. So in general this whole project is something I won't forget. Watching serial is gonna be a fun memory. Watching it while eating cereal was booth a great morning and a fun activity. It was fun to get the presentation over with and a great relief to finally get it done. In the end this was a great project in my 4 years at HTHCV." Ryelan Gillispie, 11th grade student
"What I will remember the most about XONR8 will be [my client's] words repeating in my head, saying that he is innocent and has a family; that he would never risk anything for them. I do truly believe he is innocent and the chance of maybe getting him out of prison could be gone..." Calixta Padilla, 11th grade student
"Something I will remember most about XONR8 is how well my group and I presented. We were all so confident, we knew our case, we were all on the same page, no one was left behind, we all had an equal amount of participation (the list can go on) but I am so proud of us and I will definitely always remember presenting at the law school" Victor Guarneros-Amarillas