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: 68
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
Bess, Ben South Carolina Florence 1915 1929 Assault Term of Years 30 years 14 Black Male 1929
Brooks, Riley Anne Arundel 1966 1973 Murder Life 7 46 Black Male 1973 02-16-2021
Brown, Anthony Silah Florida Escambia 1983 1986 Murder Death 3 26 Black Male 1986
Brown, J.B. Florida Putnam 1901 1913 Murder Death 12 Black Male 1913
Brown, Joseph Shabaka Green Florida Hillsborough 1974 1987 Murder Death 13 24 Black Male 1987
Brown, Willie Florida Union 1983 1988 Murder Death 5 31 Black Male 1988
Burt, Lavale Illinois Cook 1986 1986 Murder Not Sentenced 0 19 Black Male 1986
Butler, Louise Alabama Lowndes 1928 1928 Murder Life 0 Black Female 1928
Calloway, Willie Michigan Wayne 1945 1953 Murder Life 8 18 Black Male 1953
Carey, Anthony North Carolina Mecklenburg 1973 1974 Murder Death 1 20 Black Male 1974 10-05-2021
Carter, Nathaniel New York Queens 1982 1984 Murder Term of Years 25 years to life 2 30 Black Male 1984
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
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
Donaldson, Elwin Wisconsin Dane 1982 1982 Robbery Not Sentenced 0 27 Black Male 1982 11-02-2022
Dove, Frank Onslow 1922 1928 Murder Death 5 Black Male 1928
Dove, Fred Onslow 1922 1928 Murder Death 5 Black Male 1928
Ellison, Ella Mae Massachusetts Suffolk 1974 1978 Murder Life 4 27 Black Female 1978
Estes, Cornell Avery Maryland Baltimore 1979 1983 Murder Term of Years 20 years 4 15 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
Greason, Samuel Pennsylvania Berks 1901 1905 Murder Death 3 45 Black Male 1905
Green, William Pennsylvania Philadelphia 1947 1957 Murder Life 10 35 Black Male 1957
Harper, William Virginia Norfolk 1931 1931 Sexual Assault Death 0 22 Black Male 1931
Hicks, Larry Indiana Lake 1978 1980 Murder Death 2 19 Black Male 1980
Johnson, Joseph Anne Arundel 1962 1968 Sexual Assault Death 5 Black Male 1968
Johnson, Lawyer Massachusetts Suffolk 1972 1982 Murder Death 10 20 Black Male 1982
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
Lindsey, Lloyd Illinois Cook 1975 1979 Murder Term of Years 40 to 80 years 4 17 Black Male 1979
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
Montgomery, Olen Jackson 1931 1937 Sexual Assault Death 6 17 Black Male 1937
Napue, Henry Illinois Cook 1940 1960 Murder Term of Years 199 years 20 23 Black Male 1960
Norris, Clarence Jackson 1931 1976 Sexual Assault Death 13 19 Black Male 1944
Oscar, Edward Missouri Jackson 1948 1953 Child Sex Abuse Term of Years 99 years 5 60 Black Male 1953
Phillips, Richard Virginia City of Hampton 1900 1930 Murder Death 31 Black Male 1930
Pitts, Freddie Florida Gulf 1963 1975 Murder Death 12 19 Black Male 1975
Powell, Ozie Jackson 1931 1937 Sexual Assault Death 6 16 Black Male 1937
Randle, Raymond Jr. California San Francisco 1980 1982 Sexual Assault Term of Years 3 years 0 34 Black Male 1980 06-30-2020
Roberson, Willie Jackson 1931 1937 Sexual Assault Death 6 16 Black Male 1937
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
Seaton, Terry New Mexico Eddy 1973 1980 Murder Life 6 21 Black Male 1979
Sullivan, Donald Jr. Michigan Wayne 1975 1982 Murder Life 7 22 Black Male 1982 05-15-2020
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
Thrower, Allen Ohio Franklin 1973 1978 Murder Life 5 23 Black Male 1978
Tibbs, Delbert Florida Lee 1974 1982 Murder Death 8 34 Black Male 1982
Tillis, Darby Illinois Cook 1979 1987 Murder Death 7 36 Black Male 1987
Troy, Larry Florida Union 1983 1988 Murder Death 5 Black Male 1988
Turner, Aaron Pennsylvania Philadelphia 1946 1957 Murder Death 11 26 Black Male 1957 11-26-2019
Walker, Moses Mississippi Lauderdale 1907 1912 Attempted Murder Term of Years 10 years 5 Black Male 1912
Weaver, Joseph Ohio Cuyahoga 1927 1929 Murder Death 2 33 Black Male 1929
Welcome, Ernest New York Bronx 1970 1977 Murder Term of Years 25 years to life 8 20 Black Male 1977 03-30-2021
Williams, Eugene Jackson 1931 1937 Sexual Assault Death 6 15 Black Male 1937
Williams, George Onslow 1922 1928 Murder Death 5 Black Male 1928
Wilson, David Florida Miami-Dade 1967 1971 Murder Term of Years 20 years 4 23 Black Male 1971
Wilson, Horace New Jersey Mercer 1948 1951 Murder Death 3 37 Black Male 1951
Yelder, George Alabama Lowndes 1928 1928 Murder Life 0 55 Black Male 1928