Conviction review
Convictions that were overturned, and innocence claims courts are ruling on this week. Read what the evidence was and where it broke.
Kevin Bailey
Kevin Bailey was 19 years old when Chicago police used physically coercive techniques to get him to falsely confess to a 1989 murder.
2013 · TexasExonerated 2013Randolph Arledge
In 2013, Randolph Arledge was exonerated of a 1981 rape and murder near Corsicana, Texas. DNA testing of biological and physical evidence excluded Mr. Arledge and was linked to another man. Mr. Arledge spent nearly 29 years in prison for a crime he did not commit.
2003 · WisconsinExonerated 2003Steven Avery
In 2003, Steven Avery was exonerated of a 1985 rape conviction in Manitowoc County, Wisconsin. DNA testing excluded him as the source of biological evidence and pointed to another man who had been convicted of a different sexual assault.
2025 · IllinoisExonerated 2025Danny Davis
In November 2025, Danny Davis was exonerated of a 1992 murder of a 63-year-old woman in Cairo, Illinois.
2000 · ArizonaExonerated 2000Larry Youngblood
In 1985, Larry Youngblood was wrongly convicted of child molestation, sexual assault, and kidnapping. He was later exonerated in 2000.
2014 · TexasExonerated 2014Rickey Dale Wyatt
In 1981, Rickey Dale Wyatt was wrongly convicted of aggravated rape in Texas. He was later exonerated in 2014.
1993 · PennsylvaniaExonerated 2016Anthony Wright
Anthony Wright endured two trials and 25 years in prison before a jury found him not guilty of the 1991 rape and murder of an elderly woman in Philadelphia.
1999 · IllinoisExonerated 1999John Willis
In 1992, John Willis was wrongly convicted of two counts of sexual assault in Illinois. He was later exonerated in 1999.
2003 · LouisianaExonerated 2003Calvin Willis
In 1982, Calvin Willis was wrongly convicted of a rape he did not commit in Louisiana. He was later exonerated in 2003.
1999 · OklahomaExonerated 1999Ron Williamson
In 1988, Ron Williamson was wrongfully convicted of murder. He was sent to death row and spent 11 years in prison before being exonerated.
2005 · LouisianaExonerated 2005Michael Anthony Williams
In 1981, Michael Anthony Williams was wrongly convicted of a rape in Louisiana. He was later exonerated in 2005.
2012 · TexasExonerated 2012David Wiggins
In 1989, David Wiggins was wrongly convicted of a sexual assault he did not commit in Texas. He was later exonerated in 2012.
2002 · MarylandExonerated 2002Bernard Webster
In November 2002, Bernard Webster was exonerated and released from prison in Maryland after being incarcerated for 20 years.
2001 · MassachusettsExonerated 2001Kenneth Waters
In 1983, Kenneth Waters was wrongly convicted of a murder in Massachusetts. He was later exonerated in 2001.
2000 · VirginiaExonerated 2000Earl Washington
In 1984, Earl Washington was wrongly convicted of a rape and murder in Virginia. He was later exonerated in 2000.
2008 · TexasExonerated 2008Patrick Waller
Patrick Waller spent nearly 16 years in Texas prisons for a crime he didn’t commit before DNA testing proved his innocence in 2008.
2008 · TexasExonerated 2008Ronald Gene Taylor
Ronald Gene Taylor served 12 years in Texas prison before DNA testing proved his innocence in 2007 — and implicated another man already in prison for other crimes.
2011 · IllinoisExonerated 2011Robert Taylor
In 1997, Robert Taylor was wrongly convicted of a rape and murder in Illinois. He was later exonerated in 2011.
1996 · IdahoExonerated 2019Christopher Tapp
Idaho resident Christopher Tapp was wrongly convicted in 1998 for a murder he did not commit. He was later exonerated in 2019.
2008 · MichiganExonerated 2008Walter Swift
Walter Swift served 26 years in Michigan prisons for rape before evidence of his innocence led to his exoneration and release in 2008.
2010 · New YorkExonerated 2010Frank Sterling
Frank Sterling served more than 17 years in prison before DNA testing obtained by the Innocence Project led to his exoneration in 2010.
2013 · IllinoisExonerated 2013Bennie Starks
In 1986, Bennie Starks was wrongly convicted of rape and battery in Illinois. He was later exonerated in 2013.
2012 · IllinoisExonerated 2012Harold Richardson
In 1997, Harold Richardson was wrongly convicted of a rape and murder in Illinois. He was later exonerated in 2012.
2012 · IllinoisExonerated 2012Terrill Swift
In 1998, Terrill Swift was wrongly convicted of a rape and murder in Illinois. He was later exonerated in 2012.