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 Using the Registry for Research, 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: 44
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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
Adams, Sandra New York Monroe 1998 1999 Menacing Not Sentenced 0 29 Black Female 1998 04-01-2013
Ballard, Frances Tennessee Shelby 1987 1993 Child Sex Abuse Term of Years 5 years 0 54 White Female 1988 03-21-2013
Canen, Lana Indiana Elkhart 2005 2012 Murder Term of Years 55 years 7 43 White Female 2010 2012 11-06-2012
Choy, Frances Massachusetts Plymouth 2011 2020 Murder Life without parole 9 17 Asian Female 2020 10-11-2020
Cooper, Marilyn Texas Swisher 2000 2003 Drug Possession or Sale Term of Years 3 days 0 37 Black Female 2000 05-24-2022
Cox, Teresa Lynne California Kern 1985 2000 Child Sex Abuse Term of Years 10 years 5 17 White Female DK 1990 08-29-2011
Dill, Grace California Kern 1985 1991 Child Sex Abuse Life 5 50 White Female 1989 1990 08-29-2011
Draper-Roberts, Dawn Utah Salt Lake 2014 2017 Theft Probation 0 50 White Female 2014 06-19-2017
Forsythe, Colleen Dill California Kern 1985 1991 Child Sex Abuse Life 5 26 White Female 1989 1990 08-29-2011
Fry, Vickie Texas Swisher 2000 2003 Drug Possession or Sale Probation 0 25 Black Female 2000 06-07-2022
Gray, Paula Illinois Cook 1978 2002 Murder Term of Years 50 years 7 17 Black Female 1994 1985 08-29-2011
Hemme, Sandra Missouri Buchanan 1981 2024 Murder Life without parole 43 20 White Female 2024 12-17-2024
Jimerson, Tina Arkansas Dallas 1992 2020 Murder Life 26 23 Black Female 2016 2018 10-08-2020
Johnson, Latisha New York Bronx 2007 2014 Attempted Murder Term of Years 40 years 7 18 Black Female 2013 2014 03-12-2014
Jones, Brenda Wisconsin Adams 2016 2018 Arson Term of Years 9 months 0 49 White Female 2016 11-15-2018
Kelly, Denise Texas Swisher 2000 2003 Drug Possession or Sale Term of Years 1 year 1 27 Black Female 2001 06-07-2022
Klages, Kathie Michigan Ingham 2020 2022 Obstruction of Justice Term of Years 90 days 1 62 White Female 2020 04-06-2023
Kniffen, Brenda California Kern 1984 1996 Child Sex Abuse Term of Years 20 to 22 years and 4 months 12 29 White Female 1991 1996 08-29-2011
Linehan, Mechele Alaska Anchorage 2007 2012 Murder Term of Years 99 years 3 23 White Female 2010 01-10-2013
Lynch, Renay New York Erie 1998 2024 Murder Term of Years 25 to life 24 39 Black Female 2005 2022 01-16-2024
Mata, Laura Texas Swisher 1999 2003 Drug Possession or Sale Term of Years 5 years 4 21 Hispanic Female 2003 06-07-2022
Mellen, Susan California Los Angeles 1998 2014 Murder Life without parole 16 42 White Female 2014 10-10-2014
Milke, Debra Arizona Maricopa 1990 2015 Murder Death 23 25 White Female 2013 03-19-2015
Miller, Gina California Kern 1985 1991 Child Sex Abuse Life 5 25 White Female 1989 1990 08-29-2011
Monroe, Beverly Virginia Powhatan 1992 2003 Murder Term of Years 22 years 9 54 White Female 2002 08-29-2011
Murphy, Michelle Oklahoma Tulsa 1995 2014 Murder Life without parole 19 17 Native American Female 2014 09-20-2014
Murray, Lacresha Texas Travis 1996 2001 Murder Term of Years 20 years 3 11 Black Female 1999 1999 08-29-2011
Pitts, Marcella California Kern 1985 1991 Child Sex Abuse Life 5 29 White Female 1989 1990 08-29-2011
Rea, Julie Illinois Lawrence 2002 2006 Murder Term of Years 65 years 2 28 White Female 2004 08-29-2011
Salazar, Frances Arizona Maricopa 2016 2018 Drug Possession or Sale Term of Years 6 years 2 51 Hispanic Female 2018 09-07-2020
Shelton, Finaye Texas Swisher 2000 2003 Drug Possession or Sale Probation 0 23 Black Female 2000 06-01-2022
Smith, Nancy Ohio Lorain 1994 2022 Child Sex Abuse Term of Years 30 to 90 years 15 35 White Female 2009 03-18-2022
Smith, Yolanda Texas Swisher 2000 2003 Drug Possession or Sale Term of Years 6 years 3 23 Black Female 2003 06-08-2022
Spellman, India Pennsylvania Philadelphia 2013 2023 Murder Term of Years 30 to Life 10 17 Black Female 2022 2023 02-17-2023
Strickland, Romona Texas Swisher 2000 2003 Drug Possession or Sale Term of Years 3 days 0 23 Black Female 2000 06-08-2022
Swain, Lorinda Michigan Calhoun 2002 2016 Child Sex Abuse Term of Years 25 to 50 years 7 36 White Female 2002 2009 05-24-2016
Taylor, Ruth California Kern 1985 2001 Child Sex Abuse Term of Years 6 years 3 31 White Female DK 1988 08-29-2011
Tyson, Betty New York Monroe 1973 1998 Murder Term of Years 25 to Life 24 24 Black Female 1997 1998 08-29-2011
Weimer, Crystal Pennsylvania Fayette 2006 2016 Murder Term of Years 15 to 30 years 9 23 White Female 2015 2015 06-29-2016
White, Kizzie Texas Swisher 2000 2003 Drug Possession or Sale Term of Years 25 years 3 21 Black Female 2003 06-09-2022
Wilcox, Jennifer Ohio Montgomery 1985 1997 Child Sex Abuse Life 11 20 White Female 1992 1996 08-29-2011
Williams, Alberta Texas Swisher 2000 2003 Drug Possession or Sale Term of Years 10 years 3 48 Black Female 2003 06-10-2022
Williams, Michelle Texas Swisher 2000 2003 Drug Possession or Sale Term of Years 2 years 2 30 Black Female 2002 06-10-2022
Wilson, Kathryn Dawn North Carolina Chowan 1993 1997 Child Sex Abuse Life 3 22 White Female 1995 08-29-2011