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: 17
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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
Ballinger, Gene Curtis New Mexico Grant 1981 1993 Murder Term of Years 9 years 9 45 White Male 1990 12-12-2012
Branch, Michael Arkansas Sebastian 1995 1998 Murder Term of Years 20 years 2 45 White Male 1998 1998 04-05-2014
Earnest, Ralph New Mexico Eddy 1983 2006 Murder Life 23 34 White Male 2006 2006 10-04-2018
Gladish, Thomas New Mexico Bernalillo 1974 1975 Murder Death 2 22 White Male 1975
Greer, Richard New Mexico Bernalillo 1974 1975 Murder Death 2 29 White Male 1975
Keine, Ronald New Mexico Bernalillo 1974 1975 Murder Death 2 26 White Male 1975
Knee, Eric New Mexico Santa Fe 2017 2020 Child Sex Abuse Not Sentenced 2 69 White Male 2018 03-23-2020
McClaugherty, Charles New Mexico Bernalillo 2001 2008 Murder Life 2 18 White Male 2003 07-02-2014
McDowell, John Jack New Mexico Sandoval 2014 2019 Murder Term of Years 30 to Life 5 54 White Male 2019 02-10-2020
Mercer, Ellen New Mexico Dona Ana 2002 2006 Fraud Probation 0 46 White Female 2002 11-11-2019
Newman, Rickey Arkansas Crawford 2002 2017 Murder Death 15 43 White Male 2017 10-30-2017
Scamardo, Joseph Anthony Jr. Arkansas Sebastian 2010 2013 Child Sex Abuse Term of Years 12 years 3 35 White Male 2013 12-30-2013
Scott, Scotty Arkansas Pulaski 1983 1989 Murder Term of Years 25 years 0 20 White Male 1983 08-29-2011
Smith, Clarence Jr. New Mexico Bernalillo 1974 1975 Murder Death 2 29 White Male 1975
Smith, William New Mexico Bernalillo 1978 1996 Murder Life 18 24 White Male 1983 1996 12-04-2012
Taffner, Chris Arkansas Washington 2016 2022 Child Sex Abuse Term of Years 140 years 3 53 White Male 2019 05-13-2022
Wilcox, George Arkansas Pulaski 1998 2001 Assault Not Sentenced 0 55 White Male 1998 06-22-2016