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: 15
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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 Contributing Factors Display Case Characteristics Recantation OM Tags DNA
Allen, Dante Ohio Hamilton 2005 2005 Kidnapping Not Sentenced 0 16 Black Male 2005 08-29-2011 Mistaken Witness ID JV No No
Biddings, Darrell Fed-IL 1975 1976 Kidnapping Not Sentenced 1 21 Black Male 1976 Mistaken Witness ID No No
Bradford, Marcellius Illinois Cook 1988 2001 Kidnapping Term of Years 12 years 6 17 Black Male 2001 1994 08-29-2011 False Confession, False or Misleading Forensic Evidence, Perjury or False Accusation, Official Misconduct CDC, JV, P, SA Yes OF, FA, NW, INT Yes
Connor, Reginald New York Kings 1993 2015 Kidnapping Term of Years 12 1/2 to 25 years 12 23 Black Male 2004 08-02-2015 Perjury or False Accusation, Official Misconduct, Inadequate Legal Defense CV, SA No PR, WH Yes
Hill, Dartangnan Ohio Franklin 2001 2005 Kidnapping Term of Years 24 years 4 25 Black Male 2005 12-29-2012 Mistaken Witness ID, Inadequate Legal Defense CV No No
Massey, Shawn Giovanni North Carolina Mecklenburg 1999 2010 Kidnapping Term of Years 11 1/2 to 15 1/4 years 11 25 Black Male 2010 08-29-2011 Mistaken Witness ID, Official Misconduct CV, IO, SA No OF, WH No
Roberts, Rodney New Jersey Essex 1996 2014 Kidnapping Term of Years 7 years 18 29 Black Male 2001 2014 03-25-2014 Mistaken Witness ID CV, P, SA Yes Yes
Smith, Ralph Ohio Fairfield 2000 2021 Kidnapping Term of Years 67 years 21 24 Black Male 2019 2021 10-14-2021 Mistaken Witness ID, Perjury or False Accusation, Official Misconduct CV Yes PR, OF, WH, NW, KP, WT, PJ No
Sonnier, Ernest Texas Harris 1986 2018 Kidnapping Life 23 22 Black Male 2009 06-13-2018 Mistaken Witness ID, False or Misleading Forensic Evidence IO, SA No Yes
Thompson, Luqris Nevada Clark 2007 2012 Kidnapping Term of Years 9 to 23 years 5 19 Black Male 2012 10-10-2017 Mistaken Witness ID, Inadequate Legal Defense No No
Vaz, David Vermont Orleans 2022 2023 Kidnapping Not Sentenced 1 27 Black Male 2023 09-19-2023 Perjury or False Accusation, Official Misconduct CDC No PR, WH No
Wagstaffe, Everton New York Kings 1993 2015 Kidnapping Term of Years 12 1/2 to 25 years 22 23 Black Male 2014 08-02-2015 Perjury or False Accusation, Official Misconduct, Inadequate Legal Defense CV, SA No PR, WH Yes
Waller, Patrick Texas Dallas 1992 2008 Kidnapping Life 16 22 Black Male 2008 08-29-2011 Mistaken Witness ID, False or Misleading Forensic Evidence, Inadequate Legal Defense CIU, IO, SA No Yes
Walters, Earl New York Queens 1994 2023 Kidnapping Term of Years 17 1/2 to 40 19 17 Black Male 2013 09-05-2023 Mistaken Witness ID, False Confession, Perjury or False Accusation, Official Misconduct, Inadequate Legal Defense CIU, IO, SA, JV No OF, NW, WT, PJ No
Whitehead, Artis Tennessee Shelby 2003 2024 Kidnapping Life 249 years 20 38 Black Male 2017 2023 02-12-2024 Mistaken Witness ID, Perjury or False Accusation, Official Misconduct, Inadequate Legal Defense IO Yes PR, OF, WH, NW, WT No