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: 14
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Name State County Convicted Exonerated Crime Sentence Years lost Age Race Sex Posting Date
Agnew, Gregory Illinois Lake 1988 2001 Robbery 30 years 13.4 28 Black Male 01-18-2018
Carini, William Illinois Lake 1992 2017 Sexual Assault 26 years 10.6 28 White Male 01-10-2017
Dominguez, Alejandro Illinois Lake 1990 2002 Sexual Assault 9 years 3.8 16 Hispanic Male 08-29-2011
Edwards, James Illinois Lake 1996 2012 Murder Life without parole 0.8 44 Black Male 06-10-2012
Gonzalez, Angel Illinois Lake 1995 2015 Sexual Assault 55 years 19.7 20 Hispanic Male 03-12-2015
McCaughn, Patrick Illinois Lake 1996 1999 Robbery 12 years 2.7 25 White Male 08-29-2011
Melock, Robert Illinois Lake 1989 2023 Murder Death 34.1 22 White Male 01-02-2025
Montgomery, Carl Illinois Moultrie 1984 1989 Burglary 7 years 3.5 44 White Male 07-16-2014
Montgomery, James Illinois Lake 1924 1949 Sexual Assault Life 25.6 30 Black Male 03-13-2018
Rivera, Juan Illinois Lake 1993 2012 Murder Life 18.1 19 Hispanic Male 02-07-2012
Starks, Bennie Illinois Lake 1986 2013 Sexual Assault 60 years 20.3 26 Black Male 01-07-2013
Starks, Ronnie Illinois Lake 1982 1985 Robbery 11 years 3.1 White Male 03-13-2018
Strong, Jason Illinois Lake 2000 2015 Murder 46 years 14.6 24 White Male 05-30-2015
Williams, Herman Illinois Lake 1994 2022 Murder Life without parole 28.5 29 White Male 09-26-2022