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: 52
Select More Columns:
Name State County Convicted Exonerated Crime Sentence Term of Years Years lost Age Race Sex Year of recantation Date of Release Posting Date
Artis, John New Jersey Passaic 1967 1988 Murder Term of Years 15 years to life 15 19 Black Male 1981 08-04-2020
Banks, Jerry Georgia Henry 1975 1980 Murder Death 6 23 Black Male 1980
Brown, Joseph Shabaka Green Florida Hillsborough 1974 1987 Murder Death 13 24 Black Male 1987
Calloway, Willie Michigan Wayne 1945 1953 Murder Life 8 18 Black Male 1953
Carter, Rubin New Jersey Passaic 1967 1988 Murder Term of Years 30 years to life 19 29 Black Male 1986 08-04-2020
Charles, Earl Patrick Georgia Chatham 1975 1978 Murder Death 3 21 Black Male 1978
Clark, Charles Lee Michigan Wayne 1938 1968 Murder Life 30 39 Black Male 1968
Cobb, Perry Illinois Cook 1979 1987 Murder Death 7 37 Black Male 1987
Cooks, Tony California Los Angeles 1981 1986 Murder Term of Years 15 years to life 5 17 Black Male 1986
Daniels, Charles New York Queens 1979 1982 Attempted Murder Term of Years 6 to 18 years 3 34 Black Male 1982
Davis, Charlie Florida Broward 1933 1942 Murder Death 9 21 Black Male 1942 02-11-2021
Dixon, James Illinois Cook 1972 1974 Murder Term of Years 25 to 60 years 2 18 Black Male 1974 05-29-2020
Dixon, James Illinois Cook 1976 1976 Assault Term of Years 1 year 0 22 Black Male 1976 05-29-2020
Ellison, Ella Mae Massachusetts Suffolk 1974 1978 Murder Life 4 27 Black Female 1978
Forrest, McKinley New Jersey Mercer 1948 1951 Murder Death 3 35 Black Male 1951
Fowler, Walter Illinois Cook 1937 1953 Murder Term of Years 99 years 12 19 Black Male 1948
Geter, Lenell Texas Dallas 1982 1984 Robbery Life 1 25 Black Male 1983
Giles, James Maryland Montgomery 1961 1967 Sexual Assault Death 6 20 Black Male 1967
Giles, John Maryland Montgomery 1961 1967 Sexual Assault Death 6 22 Black Male 1967
Grace, Frank Parky Massachusetts Bristol 1974 1988 Murder Life 11 29 Black Male 1985
Hall, James Iowa Johnson 1974 1984 Murder Term of Years 50 years 11 Black Male 1985
Harper, William Virginia Norfolk 1931 1931 Sexual Assault Death 0 22 Black Male 1931
Harris, L.D. South Carolina Aiken 1947 1949 Murder Death 3 25 Black Male 1949
Horn, Geither Washington Franklin 1935 1959 Murder Life 24 41 Black Male 1959
Johnson, Joseph Anne Arundel 1962 1968 Sexual Assault Death 5 Black Male 1968
Jones, Harllel B. Ohio Cuyahoga 1972 1978 Murder Term of Years 1 to Life 7 30 Black Male 1978
Jordan, Theodore Oregon Klamath 1932 1965 Murder Death 33 27 Black Male 1965 03-05-2021
Lee, Wilbert Florida Gulf 1963 1975 Murder Death 12 28 Black Male 1975
Maynard, William A. New York New York 1970 1974 Manslaughter Term of Years 10 to 20 years 3 33 Black Male 1974
McKenzie, John New Jersey Mercer 1948 1951 Murder Death 3 24 Black Male 1951
Merritt, George New Jersey Union 1968 1980 Murder Life 11 24 Black Male 1980
Montgomery, James Lake 1924 1949 Sexual Assault Life 26 30 Black Male 1949
Napue, Henry Illinois Cook 1940 1960 Murder Term of Years 199 years 20 23 Black Male 1960
Pitts, Freddie Florida Gulf 1963 1975 Murder Death 12 19 Black Male 1975
Pugh, Earl Howard Illinois Cook 1937 1953 Murder Life 16 19 Black Male 1953
Robinson, Van Bering New Mexico Bernalillo 1981 1983 Murder Life 2 22 Black Male 1983
Ross, Johnny Orleans Parish 1975 1981 Sexual Assault Death 6 16 Black Male 1981
Scott, Lindsey Fed-Military Quantico, Virginia 1983 1988 Attempted Murder Term of Years 30 years 4 27 Black Male 1987
Seaton, Terry New Mexico Eddy 1973 1980 Murder Life 6 21 Black Male 1979
Smith, Devon New York Westchester 1983 1987 Sexual Assault Term of Years 16.7 to 50 years 3 18 Black Male 1987 08-07-2020
Thomas, Sammy New York Cayuga 1977 1980 Murder Term of Years 15 years to life 3 24 Black Male 1980
Thomas, Willie Gene New York Cayuga 1977 1980 Murder Term of Years 25 years to life 3 29 Black Male 1980
Thorpe, James New Jersey Mercer 1948 1951 Murder Death 3 24 Black Male 1951
Thrower, Allen Ohio Franklin 1973 1978 Murder Life 5 23 Black Male 1978
Tillis, Darby Illinois Cook 1979 1987 Murder Death 7 36 Black Male 1987
Turner, Aaron Pennsylvania Philadelphia 1946 1957 Murder Death 11 26 Black Male 1957 11-26-2019
Walden, Oscar Jr. Illinois Cook 1952 1978 Sexual Assault Term of Years 75 years 13 20 Black Male 1965 03-30-2020
Walker, Lee Dell Michigan Wayne 1954 1972 Murder Life 18 41 Black Male 1972
Wallace, Robert Georgia Baldwin 1980 1987 Murder Death 7 29 Black Male 1987
Williamson, Jack Florida Broward 1933 1942 Murder Death 9 19 Black Male 1942 02-11-2021
Wilson, Horace New Jersey Mercer 1948 1951 Murder Death 3 37 Black Male 1951
Woodward, Walter Florida Broward 1933 1942 Murder Death 9 32 Black Male 1942 02-11-2021