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.

Read Less
Total records: 13
Export More Data
Select More Columns:
Name State County Convicted Exonerated Crime Sentence Years lost Age Race Sex Posting Date
Chinnici, John Fed-VT 2018 2020 Robbery Not Sentenced 1.5 30 White Male 08-12-2024
Ferrara, Vincent Fed-MA 1992 2006 Murder 22 years 13.4 36 White Male 08-29-2011
Forbes, Todd Fed-Military 1998 2006 Sexual Assault 15 years 7.7 34 White Male 01-16-2012
Lewis, David Fed-CA (Northern) 2000 2005 Assault 7 years and 8 months 1.5 46 White Male 09-30-2012
Span, Darlene Fed-AZ 1990 1996 Assault Probation 0 39 White Female 08-30-2013
Span, Jerry Fed-AZ 1990 1996 Assault Probation 0 57 White Male 08-30-2013
Stewart, Nicholas Fed-Military 2009 2012 Sexual Assault 2 years 1.0 29 White Male 08-30-2012
Street, John Fed-MO (Western) 2006 2009 Murder Life without parole 0 36 White Male 08-24-2014
Sullivan, Bryan Fed-Military 2016 2017 Sexual Assault 7 years 0.9 31 White Male 09-26-2017
Vailette, John Fed-CT 2015 2018 Murder Not Sentenced 0 34 White Male 11-15-2018
Veltmann, Carl Fed-FL (Middle) 1992 1996 Arson Life 4.5 62 White Male 05-28-2013
Veltmann, Christopher Fed-FL (Middle) 1992 1996 Arson Life 4.5 35 White Male 05-28-2013
Zomber, Michael Fed-PA (Eastern) 2003 2009 Fraud 2 years and 6 months 4.5 53 White Male 08-29-2011