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: 18
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Name State County Convicted Exonerated Crime Sentence Years lost Age Race Sex Date of Release Posting Date
Bailey, Robert Ballard West Virginia Kanawha 1950 1966 Murder Death 10.5 35 White Male 1960 03-13-2018
Barnett, Nathaniel West Virginia Cabell 2008 2021 Murder 36 years 7.4 19 White Male 2016 10-25-2021
Barnett, Phillip West Virginia Cabell 2008 2021 Murder 40 years 9.5 22 White Male 2018 10-25-2021
Beale, Clyde West Virginia Mingo 1926 1949 Murder Death 2.8 26 White Male 1929 03-13-2018
Beard, Jacob West Virginia Pocahontas 1993 2000 Murder Life without parole 5.6 34 White Male 1999 07-30-2012
Black, Justin West Virginia Cabell 2008 2021 Murder 40 years 10.1 19 White Male 2018 10-25-2021
Boyd, Payne West Virginia Mercer 1925 1925 Murder Life 0.7 Black Male 1925 03-13-2018
Davis, Dewey West Virginia Kanawha 1987 1994 Sexual Assault 10 to 20 years 7.0 55 White Male 1994 08-29-2011
Davis, Gerald West Virginia Kanawha 1986 1995 Sexual Assault 14 to 35 years 9.4 26 White Male 1995 08-29-2011
Gardner, Jimmie West Virginia Kanawha 1990 2016 Sexual Assault 33 to life 26.2 20 Black Male 2016 09-15-2016
Harris, William O'Dell West Virginia Kanawha 1987 1995 Sexual Assault 10 to 20 years 8.0 17 Black Male 1995 08-29-2011
Holdren, Larry West Virginia Kanawha 1984 2000 Sexual Assault 30 to 60 years 14.9 27 White Male 1999 08-29-2011
Howell, Frank West Virginia Marshall 1929 1931 Robbery 15 years 1.2 28 White Male 1931 03-13-2018
Hurt, Davie West Virginia Mercer 1998 2014 Murder Life 12.9 17 Black Male 2011 08-24-2014
Lively, Charles Jason West Virginia McDowell 2006 2020 Murder Life 13.8 27 White Male 2020 10-12-2020
Richardson, James E. Jr. West Virginia Kanawha 1989 1999 Murder Life 7.1 36 White Male 1996 08-29-2011
Thomas, Marvin West Virginia Wood 1987 1993 Murder Life 5.7 20 White Male 1993 04-10-2013
Woodall, Glen West Virginia Cabell 1987 1992 Sexual Assault Life 4.0 28 White Male 1991 08-29-2011