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
Anderson, Tyjuan Illinois Winnebago 2002 2015 Murder 50 years 10.5 19 Black Male 11-24-2015
Casciaro, Mario Illinois McHenry 2013 2016 Murder 26 years 2.5 19 White Male 04-12-2016
Chatmon, Timothy Illinois Winnebago 1990 1995 Murder 35 years 5.0 30 Black Male 03-10-2014
Gauger, Gary Illinois McHenry 1993 1996 Murder Death 3.0 41 White Male 08-29-2011
Horton, John Illinois Winnebago 1995 2017 Murder Life without parole 21.9 17 Black Male 10-09-2017
Johnson, Lumont Illinois Winnebago 2002 2015 Murder 50 years 10.4 29 Black Male 11-24-2015
Olson, Henry Illinois Winnebago 1928 1928 Murder Life 0 26 Don't Know Male 03-13-2018
Pursley, Patrick Illinois Winnebago 1994 2019 Murder Life without parole 23.0 28 Black Male 02-04-2019
Ross, Anthony Illinois Winnebago 2004 2015 Murder 50 years 9.1 21 Black Male 11-13-2015
Sabin, Theodore Illinois Winnebago 1957 1957 Robbery Unknown 0.2 24 Don't Know Male 04-27-2021
Smith, Kenneth Illinois McHenry 2003 2021 Murder 67 years 17.8 25 White Male 08-19-2021
Spates, Jamie Illinois Winnebago 2018 2021 Murder Not Sentenced 0 41 Black Male 09-08-2021