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 ALL of those words. So adding more search terms will narrow the search. Terms with fewer than three characters (e.g., "IQ") are ignored in searches. Searches can be further narrowed by using "quotation marks" to search for exact phrases. Keywords both inside and outside quotation marks can be combined. And, truncated words can be entered: the term "discrim" will return all variants on that root. No "wildcards," such as "*" are necessary for truncation.

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 Understanding the Registry, 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.

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Total records: 12
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Name State County Convicted Exonerated Crime Sentence Years lost Age Race Sex Posting Date
Alowonle, Rilwan Minnesota Washington 2007 2010 Sexual Assault 4 years 1.8 50 Black Male 03-10-2014
Barrientos-Quintana, Edgar Minnesota Hennepin 2009 2024 Murder Life without parole 15.4 25 Hispanic Male 12-05-2024
Buechner, Terrell Minnesota Ramsey 2018 2019 Sex Offender Registration 2 years 1.7 40 Black Male 06-11-2026
Buechner, Terrell Minnesota Ramsey 2009 2020 Sex Offender Registration 366 days 0.8 33 Black Male 06-11-2026
Buechner, Terrell Minnesota Ramsey 2012 2020 Sex Offender Registration 34 months 2.7 35 Black Male 06-11-2026
Davis, Javon Minnesota Hennepin 2015 2020 Attempted Murder 28 years and 3 months 5.0 26 Black Male 04-06-2020
Kaiser, Robert Minnesota Stearns 2016 2025 Murder 20 years 5.5 31 White Male 05-30-2025
Lee, Koua Fong Minnesota Ramsey 2007 2010 Manslaughter 8 years 2.8 28 Asian Male 08-29-2011
Olsen, Roger Minnesota Houston 2006 2008 Child Sex Abuse 24 years 2.0 37 White Male 03-08-2016
Patterson, Ronnie Jr. Minnesota Hennepin 2008 2012 Sex Offender Registration 1 year and 8 months 1.9 31 Black Male 08-17-2018
Sarber, Laurence Minnesota Washington 2004 2009 Drug Possession or Sale 13 years and 2 months 5.6 40 White Male 09-11-2019
Townsend, Sherman Minnesota Hennepin 1998 2025 Burglary 20 years 9.7 47 Black Male 07-18-2025