The Northwestern District Attorney’s Office is dedicated to serving the people of Hampshire and Franklin counties and the town of Athol through rigorous, fair prosecutions and progressive prevention and intervention efforts.
The Northwestern District Attorney’s Office is dedicated to investigating claims of wrongful convictions and taking remedial action as necessary to correct such errors. The office is also committed to facilitating access to post-conviction DNA testing for viable innocence claims. To that end, the District Attorney formed a Conviction Integrity Committee. The Conviction Integrity Review Process has been devised to minimize the impact of cognitive biases and respond to claims of wrongful convictions in a fair, efficient, and comprehensive manner. The Committee reviews claims raised by G. L. c. 278A motions, Rule 30 motions for new trial that include a claim of factual innocence, or through letter to the District Attorney’s Office by a convicted defendant, or an attorney who represented or currently represents a convicted defendant, that alleges a wrongful conviction.