Criminal Justice Reform Advocate & Exonerated Five Member; Philanthropist; Namesake of the Korey Wise Innocence Project

New York, NY, USA
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Korey Wise Biography

Korey Wise is a leading figure in the American criminal justice reform movement, recognized internationally as a member of the Exonerated Five, a group of Black and Latino teenagers wrongfully convicted in the Central Park jogger case. At age 16, Wise was the oldest of the Central Park Five and the only one to serve his sentence in the adult prison system. Although not initially a suspect, Wise accompanied a friend to the police station, where detectives interrogated him about the rape despite his name not appearing on the original list of suspects. Wise, who had a documented hearing impairment and learning disability, was questioned for extended periods without a parent, guardian, or attorney present.

Following a prolonged police interrogation, Wise gave a taped confession to a crime he did not commit and was convicted of assault, sexual abuse, and rioting. Tried as an adult, he was sentenced to five to 15 years on Rikers Island, including extended periods in solitary confinement. Wise was exonerated after Matias Reyes confessed to the crime and DNA testing confirmed Reyes' guilt. A federal judge later approved a settlement in which each defendant received compensation for the years spent wrongfully imprisoned.

Wise's story received widespread attention through the Netflix miniseries "When They See Us," directed by Ava DuVernay, which dramatized the experiences of the Central Park Five. The series depicted the events leading to the wrongful arrest and conviction of the five men and received multiple Emmy Awards. Jharrel Jerome won the Emmy for Lead Actor in a Limited Series or Movie for his portrayal of Wise. The series brought renewed focus to the systemic failures that led to Wise's wrongful conviction and expanded his platform as a reform advocate.

Wise has become an advocate for criminal justice reform, focusing on prosecutorial accountability, juvenile justice, and wrongful conviction prevention. He pledged $190,000 to the Colorado Innocence Project at the University of Colorado Law School, which was later renamed in his honor. The Korey Wise Innocence Project provides free investigative and legal services to individuals serving time in Colorado prisons for crimes they did not commit. Colorado Law recognized Wise with its Richard Schaden Adopted Alumnus Award.

In addition to his philanthropy, Wise is a public speaker and advocate for criminal justice reform in New York and across the United States. He travels nationwide, sharing his experiences with wrongful conviction and incarceration, and works to raise awareness about the human cost of systemic injustice.

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Speaker profile last updated by AAE Talent Team on 10/15/2026.

Korey Wise Videos

Korey Wise - Democratic National Convention 2024

Korey Wise - Democratic National Convention 2024

Korey Wise - "The Central Park Five" Trailer

Korey Wise - "The Central Park Five" Trailer

A documentary that examines the 1989 case of five black and Latino teenagers who were convicted of raping a white woman in Central Park. After...

Members of the Central Park 5 react to Korey Wise's story in 'When ...

Members of the Central Park 5 react to Korey Wise's story in 'When ...

Five men who were wrongfully convicted when they were just teens for the 1989 rape of a jogger in New York City are telling their story through ...

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  • What topics does Korey Wise speak about?

    Korey Wise is a keynote speaker and industry expert whose speaking topics include Anti-Racism, Civil Rights, DEI, Government, Law, Philanthropy, Social Activism, Social Justice, Television & Film
  • Where does Korey Wise travel from?

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Korey Wise is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics. The estimated speaking fee range to book Korey Wise for your event is available upon request. Korey Wise generally travels from New York, NY, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. Similar motivational celebrity speakers are Yusef Salaam, Raymond Santana Jr., Kevin Richardson, Laura Nirider and Van Jones. Contact All American Speakers for ratings, reviews, videos and information on scheduling Korey Wise for an upcoming live or virtual event.

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