Wayne Houff | Oregon Innocence Project | Paralegal/Legal Assistant
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.