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: 265
Select More Columns:
Name State County Convicted Exonerated Crime Sentence Years lost Age Race Sex Posting Date
Romero, Francisco Illinois Cook 2006 2024 Murder 65 years 17.9 18 Hispanic Male 07-15-2024
Rosario, Adolfo Illinois Cook 1991 2022 Murder 57 years 28.4 25 Hispanic Male 03-12-2024
Ross, Anthony Illinois Winnebago 2004 2015 Murder 50 years 9.1 21 Black Male 11-13-2015
Safforld, Victor Illinois Cook 1992 2010 Murder 35 years 13.1 19 Black Male 02-11-2020
Samanta, Michael Illinois Cook 2006 2024 Murder 25 years 17.0 20 Hispanic Male 07-15-2024
Sanchez, Isauro Illinois Cook 1982 1991 Murder Life without parole 8.3 20 Hispanic Male 08-29-2011
Sanchez, Jesus Illinois Cook 2014 2018 Murder 45 years 3.4 18 Hispanic Male 06-06-2018
Sanders, Rodell Illinois Cook 1995 2014 Murder 80 years 19.5 28 Black Male 07-29-2014
Santiago, Fabian Illinois Cook 1994 2022 Murder 90 years 25.3 16 Hispanic Male 10-22-2023
Santos, Edar Duarte Illinois Cook 2002 2003 Murder 12 years 0.5 26 Hispanic Male 08-29-2011
Saunders, Michael Illinois Cook 1998 2012 Murder 40 years 13.8 15 Black Male 01-27-2012
Saunders, Omar Illinois Cook 1988 2001 Murder Life without parole 13.6 18 Black Male 08-29-2011
Savory, Johnnie Illinois Peoria 1977 2015 Murder 50 to 100 years 29.5 14 Black Male 02-02-2015
Serrano, Armando Illinois Cook 1994 2016 Murder 55 years 21.7 20 Hispanic Male 07-23-2016
Shakirov, Mansur Illinois McLean 2014 2018 Manslaughter 4 years 1.7 28 White Male 06-05-2018
Shannon, Mason Illinois LaSalle 2018 2024 Manslaughter Not Sentenced 0 42 White Male 07-15-2024
Sharp, Shainne Illinois Cook 1994 2011 Murder 20 years 8.0 16 Black Male 01-23-2012
Sierra, Thomas Illinois Cook 1997 2018 Murder 55 years 20.8 19 Hispanic Male 01-16-2018
Simon, Alstory Illinois Cook 1999 2014 Murder 37 years 15.1 32 Black Male 10-31-2014
Smith, Alonzo Illinois Cook 1984 2015 Murder 40 years 18.3 35 Black Male 03-21-2017
Smith, Kenneth Illinois McHenry 2003 2021 Murder 67 years 17.8 25 White Male 08-19-2021
Smith, Robert Illinois Cook 1990 2020 Murder Life without parole 30.1 38 Black Male 11-05-2020
Smith, Steven Illinois Cook 1986 1999 Murder Death 12.5 37 Black Male 09-03-2012
Smith, Tyrone Illinois Cook 2020 2024 Murder Not Sentenced 3.9 24 Black Male 01-17-2024
Solache, Gabriel Illinois Cook 2000 2017 Murder Death 17.5 23 Hispanic Male 01-03-2018
Sopron, Matthew Illinois Cook 1998 2018 Murder Life without parole 20.9 22 White Male 12-31-2018
Soto, James Illinois Cook 1982 2023 Murder Life without parole 41.2 20 Hispanic Male 12-21-2023
Spates, Jamie Illinois Winnebago 2018 2021 Murder Not Sentenced 0 41 Black Male 09-08-2021
Steidl, Gordon Illinois Edgar 1987 2004 Murder Death 16.9 35 White Male 08-29-2011
Strong, Jason Illinois Lake 2000 2015 Murder 46 years 14.6 24 White Male 05-30-2015
Styles, Larod Illinois Cook 1998 2017 Murder Life without parole 18.7 16 Black Male 03-01-2017
Swift, Terrill Illinois Cook 1998 2012 Murder 36 years 13.5 17 Black Male 01-27-2012
Taylor, Daniel Illinois Cook 1995 2013 Murder Life without parole 17.8 17 Black Male 06-28-2013
Taylor, Lavell Illinois Cook 1998 2015 Murder 35 years 15.4 19 Black Male 12-17-2021
Taylor, Patrick Illinois Cook 2011 2023 Murder Life 12.3 37 Black Male 10-30-2023
Taylor, Robert Illinois Cook 1997 2011 Murder 80 years 14.3 14 Black Male 01-15-2012
Terry, Paul Illinois Cook 1977 2003 Murder Life 26.1 17 Black Male 08-29-2011
Thames, Vincent Illinois Cook 1998 2012 Murder 30 years 13.4 17 Black Male 01-27-2012
Thompson, Franklin Illinois Will 1997 2003 Murder 24 years 5.3 45 Black Male 08-29-2011
Tillman, Michael Illinois Cook 1986 2010 Murder Life 23.1 20 Black Male 08-29-2011
Tinajero, Jose Illinois Cook 2001 2024 Murder 30 years 22.5 19 Hispanic Male 02-05-2024
Torres, Cesar Illinois Cook 2018 2023 Murder 71 years 4.0 22 Hispanic Male 12-13-2024
Tyler, Sean Illinois Cook 1995 2021 Murder 58 years 23.4 17 Black Male 10-12-2021
Varela, Ignacio Illinois Cook 1982 1991 Murder Life without parole 8.3 42 Hispanic Male 08-29-2011
Varela, Joaquin Illinois Cook 1982 1991 Murder Life without parole 8.3 22 Hispanic Male 08-29-2011
Veal, Robert Illinois Cook 1994 2011 Murder 20 years 8.0 14 Black Male 01-15-2012
Velez, John Illinois Cook 2002 2017 Murder 55 years 15.2 18 Hispanic Male 12-22-2017
Villa, Alexander Illinois Cook 2019 2024 Murder Life 5.6 23 Hispanic Male 10-16-2024
Walker, Keith Illinois Cook 1994 2020 Murder Life without parole 25.7 23 Black Male 08-26-2020
Walker, Xavier Illinois Cook 2004 2019 Murder 35 years 15.5 19 Black Male 01-02-2020
Washington, Wayne Illinois Cook 1996 2015 Murder 25 years 10.6 20 Black Male 02-12-2015
Weston, Demond Illinois Cook 1992 2019 Murder 75 years 27.7 17 Black Male 01-09-2020
Whirl, Shawn Illinois Cook 1991 2015 Murder 60 years 24.0 20 Black Male 10-22-2015
Whitlock, Herbert Illinois Edgar 1987 2008 Murder Life 20.6 39 White Male 08-29-2011
Williams, Bernard Illinois Cook 1998 2023 Murder 80 years 20.6 17 Black Male 10-02-2023
Williams, Cordell Illinois Cook 1995 2022 Murder Life without parole 27.3 19 Black Male 12-20-2022
Williams, Dennis Illinois Cook 1978 1996 Murder Death 17.7 21 Black Male 08-29-2011
Williams, Herman Illinois Lake 1994 2022 Murder Life without parole 28.5 29 White Male 09-26-2022
Williams, Tyrece Illinois Cook 1991 2025 Murder 35 years 18.6 22 Black Male 04-22-2025
Wilson, Jackie Illinois Cook 1983 2020 Murder Life without parole 35.4 21 Black Male 10-16-2020
Winston, Michael Illinois Cook 2007 2012 Murder 40 years 5.3 21 Black Male 07-05-2012
Woidtke, Rodney Illinois St. Clair 1989 2001 Murder 45 years 11.6 27 White Male 08-29-2011
Wright, David Illinois Cook 1996 2023 Murder Life without parole 25.9 17 Black Male 04-20-2023
Yanez, Jose Illinois Rock Island 2020 2024 Murder 15 years 2.4 28 Hispanic Male 12-05-2024
Young, Dan Jr. Illinois Cook 1994 2005 Murder Life without parole 10.4 30 Black Male 08-29-2011