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: 145
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
Rios, Jaime Illinois Cook 1990 2022 Murder Term of Years 36 years 17 20 Hispanic Male 2020 2008 09-06-2022
Rivera, Juan Illinois Lake 1993 2012 Murder Life 18 19 Hispanic Male 2012 02-07-2012
Rodriguez, Daniel Illinois Cook 1993 2022 Murder Term of Years 25 years 15 21 Hispanic Male 2008 05-10-2022
Rollins, Lafonso Illinois Cook 1994 2004 Sexual Assault Term of Years 75 years 10 17 Black Male 2004 08-29-2011
Safforld, Victor Illinois Cook 1992 2010 Murder Term of Years 35 years 13 19 Black Male 2005 02-11-2020
Samanta, Michael Illinois Cook 2006 2024 Murder Term of Years 25 years 17 20 Hispanic Male 2023 07-15-2024
Sanchez, Jesus Illinois Cook 2014 2018 Murder Term of Years 45 years 3 18 Hispanic Male 2018 06-06-2018
Santiago, Fabian Illinois Cook 1994 2022 Murder Term of Years 90 years 25 16 Hispanic Male 2019 10-22-2023
Santos, Edar Duarte Illinois Cook 2002 2003 Murder Term of Years 12 years 0 26 Hispanic Male 2002 2002 08-29-2011
Saunders, Michael Illinois Cook 1998 2012 Murder Term of Years 40 years 14 15 Black Male 2011 01-27-2012
Savory, Johnnie Illinois Peoria 1977 2015 Murder Term of Years 50 to 100 years 29 14 Black Male 1983 2006 02-02-2015
Sharp, Shainne Illinois Cook 1994 2011 Murder Term of Years 20 years 8 16 Black Male 2010 2002 01-23-2012
Simon, Alstory Illinois Cook 1999 2014 Murder Term of Years 37 years 15 32 Black Male 2005 2014 10-31-2014
Smith, Alonzo Illinois Cook 1984 2015 Murder Term of Years 40 years 18 35 Black Male 2002 03-21-2017
Smith, Robert Illinois Cook 1990 2020 Murder Life without parole 30 38 Black Male 2020 11-05-2020
Solache, Gabriel Illinois Cook 2000 2017 Murder Death 18 23 Hispanic Male 2017 01-03-2018
Strong, Jason Illinois Lake 2000 2015 Murder Term of Years 46 years 15 24 White Male 2010 2015 05-30-2015
Styles, Larod Illinois Cook 1998 2017 Murder Life without parole 19 16 Black Male 2016 03-01-2017
Swift, Terrill Illinois Cook 1998 2012 Murder Term of Years 36 years 14 17 Black Male 2011 01-27-2012
Taylor, Daniel Illinois Cook 1995 2013 Murder Life without parole 18 17 Black Male 2001 2013 06-28-2013
Taylor, Robert Illinois Cook 1997 2011 Murder Term of Years 80 years 14 14 Black Male 2010 2011 01-15-2012
Thames, Vincent Illinois Cook 1998 2012 Murder Term of Years 30 years 13 17 Black Male 2011 01-27-2012
Thompson, Franklin Illinois Will 1997 2003 Murder Term of Years 24 years 5 45 Black Male 2003 08-29-2011
Tillman, Michael Illinois Cook 1986 2010 Murder Life 23 20 Black Male 2010 08-29-2011
Tinajero, Jose Illinois Cook 2001 2024 Murder Term of Years 30 years 22 19 Hispanic Male 2016 2024 02-05-2024
Tyler, Sean Illinois Cook 1995 2021 Murder Term of Years 58 years 23 17 Black Male 2008 2019 10-12-2021
Varela, Joaquin Illinois Cook 1982 1991 Murder Life without parole 8 22 Hispanic Male 1991 08-29-2011
Veal, Robert Illinois Cook 1994 2011 Murder Term of Years 20 years 8 14 Black Male 2010 2002 01-15-2012
Walden, Oscar Jr. Illinois Cook 1952 1978 Sexual Assault Term of Years 75 years 13 20 Black Male 1965 03-30-2020
Walker, Jamal Illinois Cook 2016 2020 Weapon Possession or Sale Term of Years 8 years and 6 months 3 31 Black Male 2019 05-27-2021
Walker, Keith Illinois Cook 1994 2020 Murder Life without parole 26 23 Black Male 2020 08-26-2020
Walker, Xavier Illinois Cook 2004 2019 Murder Term of Years 35 years 15 19 Black Male 2019 01-02-2020
Washington, Wayne Illinois Cook 1996 2015 Murder Term of Years 25 years 11 20 Black Male 2008 2007 02-12-2015
Weston, Demond Illinois Cook 1992 2019 Murder Term of Years 75 years 28 17 Black Male 2007 2019 01-09-2020
Whirl, Shawn Illinois Cook 1991 2015 Murder Term of Years 60 years 24 20 Black Male 2015 10-22-2015
Williams, Bernard Illinois Cook 1998 2023 Murder Term of Years 80 years 21 17 Black Male 2005 2019 10-02-2023
Williams, Cordell Illinois Cook 1995 2022 Murder Life without parole 27 19 Black Male 2022 12-20-2022
Williams, Emmaline Illinois Cook 1986 1995 Child Sex Abuse Term of Years 12 years 8 43 Black Female 1994 07-03-2014
Williams, Herman Illinois Lake 1994 2022 Murder Life without parole 29 29 White Male 2022 09-26-2022
Wilson, Jackie Illinois Cook 1983 2020 Murder Life without parole 35 21 Black Male 2018 2018 10-16-2020
Wilson, Robert Illinois Cook 1999 2006 Attempted Murder Term of Years 30 years 7 41 Black Male 2006 2006 08-29-2011
Woidtke, Rodney Illinois St. Clair 1989 2001 Murder Term of Years 45 years 12 27 White Male 2001 08-29-2011
Wrice, Stanley Illinois Cook 1983 2013 Sexual Assault Life 31 28 Black Male 2011 2013 12-12-2013
Wright, David Illinois Cook 1996 2023 Murder Life without parole 26 17 Black Male 2017 2022 04-20-2023
Young, Dan Jr. Illinois Cook 1994 2005 Murder Life without parole 10 30 Black Male 2005 08-29-2011