STAFF
Legal Staff
KENNETH A. KREUSCHER
Co-Director
Contact Kenneth
Kenneth A. Kreuscher has been a criminal-defense and civil-rights attorney since 2006. He has represented criminal defendants and civil-rights plaintiffs in both state and federal court at trial, on direct appeal, on state post-conviction, and on habeas review. His criminal case work has ranged from protest-related violations to death-penalty murders, and everything in between.
His professional passions have always been on combating governmental overreach and to focus on using his skills (and access) as a lawyer to work for a more just and equitable world.
Out of the office, he enjoys exploring the mountains and rivers of Cascadia, reading science fiction, and playing soccer. He joined the Oregon Innocence Project as Managing Attorney in 2022 and became Co-Director in 2025.
JD, cum laude, Lewis & Clark Law School
KASSIDY HETLAND
Co-Director
Contact Kassidy
Kassidy grew up in Wyoming and studied psychology and criminal justice at the University of Wyoming. Having discovered a passion for advocating for and alongside those harmed by the criminal legal system, Kassidy moved to Oregon to attend the University of Oregon School of Law. During law school, she interned at a criminal defense office and the Oregon Innocence Project. After graduation, Kassidy worked as a judicial law clerk and then as an attorney at Metropolitan Public Defender, where she had the honor of representing clients facing criminal charges. Kassidy now works as Co-Director of the Oregon Innocence Project.
JD, University of Oregon School of Law
BA, University of Wyoming
WAYNE HOUFF
Paralegal/Legal Assistant
Contact Wayne
Wayne spent his first 30 years in Minnesota, the first half in rural small towns by the Iowa border and the second half in the Twin Cities. He was arrested and confined in prison at 30 years old becoming a journeyman who helped build hundreds of houses in Minnesota and dozens of commercial buildings in the Portland Metropolitan area. Shortly into his prison sentence he realized quickly that the Just Us system quickly eats the poor, marginalized, and underprivileged. Barely weeks into his 24-plus year prison sentence, he vowed to himself that he would learn, and continue to learn, as much as he could about the Just Us system with the hope of helping himself at first, then later morphing into a desire to help as many as he could navigate the system. That desire burns as bright today as it did in the beginning. His strongest assets lie in criminal, parole board, and civil rights law, but he has delved into many other areas over the years also. His spare time is spent on volunteering at the Blanchet House, fishing, and the arts—visual and music. He is somewhat accomplished with his art having won several contests and enjoying the honor of being displayed in several galleries.
ADMINISTRATION
The Oregon Innocence Project is administered by the Oregon Justice Resource Center, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization.
BOBBIN SINGH
Executive Director
Oregon Justice Resource Center
AMIE WEXLER
Associate Director
Oregon Justice Resource Center
JULIA YOSHIMOTO
Senior Advisor
Oregon Justice Resource Center
STEVE WAX
Senior Counsel
Oregon Justice Resource Center
ALICE LUNDELL
Director of Communication
Oregon Justice Resource Center
ZACH WINSTON
Policy Director
Oregon Justice Resource Center
PRO BONO STAFF
LISA CHRISTON
Attorney
ERYN KARPINSKI
Attorney
PHIL LEWIS
Attorney
The Oregon Innocence Project was founded in 2014 and is a program of the Oregon Justice Resource Center, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization based in Portland, Oregon. OJRC (OIP) is a member of the Innocence Network. For a full staff directory, visit OJRC's website.