Instructions for Using the Registry

The table below shows all individual exonerations. By default, the table is set to show exonerations from 1989 through the present. Check "Pre-1989" in the Exoneration Era filter to view Pre-1989 exonerations. Use the filters on the left to search for exonerations with particular criteria. Hover over the symbols for explanations of filters or columns. Use the Keyword Search box to filter for cases that contain those keywords in the narrative summary.

If multiple keywords are entered, the search will show cases in which the narrative contains ANY of those words. Since the table is filtered to 1989 through the present by default, a search for the name of someone who was exonerated before 1989 will not produce results until the Date of Exoneration is adjusted, or the Pre-1989 filter is selected. Once filters have been set, select the column headings you wish to display, and sort the table by whatever column heading you choose by clicking on the column heading. For more detailed instructions, see Understanding the Registry, under "About" at the top right of the Home Page. Note: 1989 was the year of the first DNA exoneration and the dawn of a new era of wrongful convictions. The Registry used to separate the two - pre and post 1989 exonerations - into two separate and distinct databases. They are now synthesized to reflect the entire body of exoneration data. If you wish to view exonerations prior to 1989, check "Pre-1989" in the Exoneration Era filter. Read Less
Total records: 39
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Name State County Convicted Exonerated Crime Sentence Term of Years Years lost Age Race Sex Year of recantation Date of Release Posting Date
Agnew, Gregory Illinois Lake 1988 2001 Robbery Term of Years 30 years 13 28 Black Male 2001 01-18-2018
Amor, William Illinois DuPage 1997 2018 Murder Term of Years 45 years 20 39 White Male 2017 02-23-2018
Baker, Ben Illinois Cook 2006 2016 Drug Possession or Sale Term of Years 18 years 10 32 Black Male 2016 01-19-2016
Britton, Robert Illinois Cook 1996 2014 Sexual Assault Term of Years 50 years 19 38 Black Male 2014 11-12-2014
Brown, Marcel Illinois Cook 2011 2018 Murder Term of Years 35 years 8 18 Black Male 2015 2018 07-24-2018
Burt, Lavale Illinois Cook 1986 1986 Murder Not Sentenced 0 19 Black Male 1986
Cruz, Rolando Illinois DuPage 1985 1995 Murder Death 11 19 Hispanic Male 1995 1995 08-29-2011
Dixon, Matthew Illinois Cook 2017 2022 Drug Possession or Sale Probation 0 24 Black Male 2017 07-24-2022
Evans, Michael Illinois Cook 1976 2003 Murder Life 27 17 Black Male 2003 08-29-2011
Ezell, LaShawn Illinois Cook 1998 2017 Robbery Term of Years 20 years 7 15 Black Male 2005 03-01-2017
Fowler, Walter Illinois Cook 1937 1953 Murder Term of Years 99 years 12 19 Black Male 1948
Gauger, Gary Illinois McHenry 1993 1996 Murder Death 3 41 White Male 1996 08-29-2011
Geralds, Hubert Jr. Illinois Cook 1997 2000 Murder Death 2 30 Black Male 2000 08-31-2011
Harris, Lee Illinois Cook 1992 2023 Murder Term of Years 90 years 31 34 Black Male 2003 2023 04-08-2023
Horton, John Illinois Winnebago 1995 2017 Murder Life without parole 22 17 Black Male 1998 2017 10-09-2017
Lettrich, George Illinois Cook 1951 1953 Murder Death 2 33 White Male 1953
Lewis, Jamar Illinois Cook 2005 2017 Drug Possession or Sale Term of Years 5 years 4 22 Black Male 2008 11-28-2018
Lindsey, Lloyd Illinois Cook 1975 1979 Murder Term of Years 40 to 80 years 4 17 Black Male 1979
Linscott, Steven Illinois Cook 1982 1992 Murder Term of Years 40 years 3 26 White Male 1985 08-29-2011
McCoy, Troshawn Illinois Cook 1998 2017 Murder Term of Years 55 years 18 17 Black Male 2017 03-01-2017
Melock, Robert Illinois Lake 1989 2024 Murder Death 35 22 White Male 2024 01-02-2025
Miller, Lloyd Eldon Illinois Hancock 1956 1971 Murder Death 10 29 White Male 1967
Nanez, Francisco Illinois Cook 1990 2022 Murder Life without parole 32 21 Hispanic Male 1990 2022 08-08-2022
Ollins, Calvin Illinois Cook 1988 2001 Murder Life without parole 14 14 Black Male 2001 2001 08-29-2011
Pugh, Earl Howard Illinois Cook 1937 1953 Murder Life 16 19 Black Male 1953
Samanta, Michael Illinois Cook 2006 2024 Murder Term of Years 25 years 17 20 Hispanic Male 2023 07-15-2024
Sharp, Shainne Illinois Cook 1994 2011 Murder Term of Years 20 years 8 16 Black Male 2010 2002 01-23-2012
Simon, Alstory Illinois Cook 1999 2014 Murder Term of Years 37 years 15 32 Black Male 2005 2014 10-31-2014
Styles, Larod Illinois Cook 1998 2017 Murder Life without parole 19 16 Black Male 2016 03-01-2017
Swift, Terrill Illinois Cook 1998 2012 Murder Term of Years 36 years 14 17 Black Male 2011 01-27-2012
Thompson, Franklin Illinois Will 1997 2003 Murder Term of Years 24 years 5 45 Black Male 2003 08-29-2011
Tinajero, Jose Illinois Cook 2001 2024 Murder Term of Years 30 years 22 19 Hispanic Male 2016 2024 02-05-2024
Varela, Joaquin Illinois Cook 1982 1991 Murder Life without parole 8 22 Hispanic Male 1991 08-29-2011
Veal, Robert Illinois Cook 1994 2011 Murder Term of Years 20 years 8 14 Black Male 2010 2002 01-15-2012
Walden, Oscar Jr. Illinois Cook 1952 1978 Sexual Assault Term of Years 75 years 13 20 Black Male 1965 03-30-2020
Walker, Jamal Illinois Cook 2016 2020 Weapon Possession or Sale Term of Years 8 years and 6 months 3 31 Black Male 2019 05-27-2021
Williams, Bernard Illinois Cook 1998 2023 Murder Term of Years 80 years 21 17 Black Male 2005 2019 10-02-2023
Williams, Emmaline Illinois Cook 1986 1995 Child Sex Abuse Term of Years 12 years 8 43 Black Female 1994 07-03-2014
Woidtke, Rodney Illinois St. Clair 1989 2001 Murder Term of Years 45 years 12 27 White Male 2001 08-29-2011