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: 34
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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
Alcox, Joel California Santa Barbara 1987 2016 Murder Term of Years 26 to life 25 22 White Male 2004 2012 05-31-2016
Cox, Michael California San Diego 1999 2001 Drug Possession or Sale Term of Years 6 years 2 43 White Male 2001 01-26-2014
Cox, Richard California Kern 1985 1991 Child Sex Abuse Term of Years 82 years 6 47 White Male DK 1991 08-29-2011
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
Dill, Wayne Jr. California Kern 1985 1991 Child Sex Abuse Life 5 26 White Male 1989 1990 08-29-2011
Dorotik, Jane California San Diego 2001 2022 Murder Term of Years 25 to life 19 53 White Female 2020 07-04-2022
Fenenbock, Robert California Trinity 1994 2020 Murder Term of Years 25 to Life 26 38 White Male 2019 2019 03-01-2021
Foley, Kenneth Wayne California Santa Clara 1995 2007 Robbery Term of Years 25 to Life 11 26 White Male 2006 08-29-2011
Forsythe, Colleen Dill California Kern 1985 1991 Child Sex Abuse Life 5 26 White Female 1989 1990 08-29-2011
Forsythe, Wayne California Kern 1985 1991 Child Sex Abuse Life 5 28 White Male 1989 1990 08-29-2011
Franklin, George California San Mateo 1990 1996 Murder Life 6 30 White Male 1996 08-29-2011
Goldstein, Thomas Lee California Los Angeles 1980 2004 Murder Term of Years 25 to Life 24 30 White Male 2000 2004 08-29-2011
Hanline, Michael California Ventura 1980 2015 Murder Life without parole 34 31 White Male 2014 04-23-2015
Killian, Gloria California Sacramento 1986 2002 Murder Term of Years 32 to Life 16 35 White Female 2000 2002 08-29-2011
Klene, John California Los Angeles 1998 2021 Murder Life without parole 22 18 White Male 2021 04-06-2021
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
Kniffen, Scott California Kern 1984 1996 Child Sex Abuse Term of Years 20 to 22 years and 4 months 12 28 White Male 1991 1996 08-29-2011
Larsen, Daniel California Los Angeles 1999 2014 Other Nonviolent Felony Term of Years 28 to life 14 30 White Male 2013 01-27-2014
Lisker, Bruce California Los Angeles 1985 2009 Murder Term of Years 16 to Life 24 17 White Male 2009 08-29-2011
Magnan, Paul Philip California Santa Clara 2000 2006 Drug Possession or Sale Term of Years 25 to Life 6 46 White Male 2006 08-29-2011
Mellen, Susan California Los Angeles 1998 2014 Murder Life without parole 16 42 White Female 2014 10-10-2014
Merrill, Thomas California Orange 1991 1995 Murder Life 4 24 White Male 1995 08-29-2011
Miller, Gina California Kern 1985 1991 Child Sex Abuse Life 5 25 White Female 1989 1990 08-29-2011
Modahl, Jeffrey California Kern 1986 1999 Child Sex Abuse Term of Years 48 years 13 29 White Male 1987 1999 08-29-2011
O'Connell, Frank California Los Angeles 1985 2012 Murder Term of Years 25 to Life 27 25 White Male DK 2012 06-13-2012
Pickett, Daniel California Butte 2004 2004 Child Sex Abuse Not Sentenced 0 43 White Male 2004 09-03-2012
Pitts, Marcella California Kern 1985 1991 Child Sex Abuse Life 5 29 White Female 1989 1990 08-29-2011
Pitts, Ricky Lynn California Kern 1985 1991 Child Sex Abuse Life 5 31 White Male 1989 1990 08-29-2011
Richardson, Julie California San Diego 1999 2001 Drug Possession or Sale Term of Years 1 year 1 44 White Female 2000 01-26-2014
Rose, Peter California San Joaquin 1995 2005 Child Sex Abuse Term of Years 27 years 9 37 White Male 2004 2004 08-29-2011
Smith, Paul California Orange 2010 2022 Attempt, Violent Term of Years 4 years and 8 months 1 49 White Male 2011 09-13-2022
Taylor, Ruth California Kern 1985 2001 Child Sex Abuse Term of Years 6 years 3 31 White Female DK 1988 08-29-2011
Weiner, Murray California San Diego 1994 1996 Murder Not Sentenced 2 65 White Male 1996 03-16-2013