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: 25
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Name State County Convicted Exonerated Crime Sentence Years lost Age Race Sex Date of Release Posting Date
Adams, Kenneth Illinois Cook 1978 1996 Murder 75 years 17.7 22 Black Male 1996 08-29-2011
Bouto, Robert Illinois Cook 1996 2018 Murder 45 years 19.2 17 White Male 2015 07-02-2018
Cruz, Rolando Illinois DuPage 1985 1995 Murder Death 10.7 19 Hispanic Male 1995 08-29-2011
Gauger, Gary Illinois McHenry 1993 1996 Murder Death 3.0 41 White Male 1996 08-29-2011
Gold-Smith, Robert Illinois Will 2016 2023 Other Violent Felony 30 years 3.8 50 White Male 2019 05-01-2023
Gray, David A. Illinois Madison 1978 1999 Attempted Murder 60 years 20.3 25 Black Male 1999 08-29-2011
Gray, Paula Illinois Cook 1978 2002 Murder 50 years 6.7 17 Black Female 1985 08-29-2011
Harris, Lee Illinois Cook 1992 2023 Murder 90 years 31.0 34 Black Male 2023 04-08-2023
Hernandez, Alejandro Illinois DuPage 1985 1995 Murder Death 10.7 19 Hispanic Male 1995 08-29-2011
Iglesias, Geraldo Illinois Cook 1994 2019 Murder 35 years 15.7 24 Hispanic Male 2010 01-30-2019
Jimerson, Verneal Illinois Cook 1985 1996 Murder Death 10.2 25 Black Male 1996 08-29-2011
Kitchen, Ronald Illinois Cook 1990 2009 Murder Death 18.8 22 Black Male 2009 08-29-2011
Lane, Lionel Illinois Kane 1995 1995 Murder 60 years 0.3 33 Black Male 1995 08-29-2011
McCullough, Jack Illinois DeKalb 2012 2016 Murder Life 3.6 18 White Male 2016 05-02-2016
Melock, Robert Illinois Lake 1989 2023 Murder Death 34.1 22 White Male 2023 01-02-2025
Mendoza, Madeline Illinois Cook 1993 2023 Murder 35 years 15.9 16 Hispanic Female 2009 01-10-2023
Mulero, Marilyn Illinois Cook 1993 2022 Murder Death 26.5 21 Hispanic Female 2020 08-22-2022
Nelson, Terry Lee Illinois St. Clair 1989 1994 Murder 40 years 0 37 White Male 1989 08-29-2011
Rainge, Willie Illinois Cook 1978 1996 Murder Life 17.7 20 Black Male 1996 08-29-2011
Reeves, Marvin Illinois Cook 1991 2009 Murder Life without parole 18.1 29 Black Male 2009 08-29-2011
Rivera, Juan Illinois Lake 1993 2012 Murder Life 18.1 19 Hispanic Male 2012 02-07-2012
Steidl, Gordon Illinois Edgar 1987 2004 Murder Death 16.9 35 White Male 2004 08-29-2011
Whitlock, Herbert Illinois Edgar 1987 2008 Murder Life 20.6 39 White Male 2008 08-29-2011
Williams, Dennis Illinois Cook 1978 1996 Murder Death 17.7 21 Black Male 1996 08-29-2011
Wilson, Jackie Illinois Cook 1983 2020 Murder Life without parole 35.4 21 Black Male 2018 10-16-2020