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
Arroyo, Miguel New York Kings 1965 1966 Manslaughter Not Sentenced 1.2 42 Hispanic Male 1966 03-13-2018
Banks, Medell Alabama Choctaw 2001 2003 Manslaughter 15 years 1.7 27 Black Male 2003 08-29-2011
Bostick, Yeidja Pennsylvania Philadelphia 1990 1993 Manslaughter 5 to 10 years 2.8 21 Black Female 1993 11-10-2014
Brown, Shawn Michigan Calhoun 2010 2021 Manslaughter 8 years and 4 months to 30 years 8.8 25 Black Male 2019 05-03-2021
Cannon, Trevor Georgia Chatham 2015 2018 Manslaughter 8 years 1.7 22 White Male 2017 01-11-2018
Conley, Donna Ohio Perry 2003 2007 Manslaughter 13 years 1.9 31 White Female 2005 10-10-2022
Engberg-Lehmer, Teresa Iowa Pottawattamie 1997 1998 Manslaughter 15 years 1.0 24 White Female 1998 07-29-2012
Frazier, Patience Nevada Humboldt 2019 2025 Manslaughter 2 years and 6 months to 8 years 2.3 26 White Female 2021 10-14-2025
Lee, Koua Fong Minnesota Ramsey 2007 2010 Manslaughter 8 years 2.8 28 Asian Male 2010 08-29-2011
Lehmer, Joel Iowa Pottawattamie 1997 1998 Manslaughter 15 years 1.0 32 White Male 1998 07-29-2012
McGuffin, Nicholas Oregon Coos 2011 2019 Manslaughter 10 years 8.4 18 White Male 2019 01-20-2020
Peel, John Florida Pinellas 2000 2002 Manslaughter 10 years 1.8 18 White Male 2002 10-11-2011
Ralston, Sean Massachusetts Middlesex 1989 1992 Manslaughter 10 to 15 years 2.8 18 White Male 1991 10-25-2014
Ruffin, Steven New York Kings 1996 2024 Manslaughter 20 to 40 years 13.5 17 Black Male 2010 02-20-2024
Swartz, Mary Washington Spokane 1918 1920 Manslaughter 1 to 10 years 1.5 Don't Know Female 1920 04-25-2022
Terens, Daniel Wisconsin Manitowoc 1991 1993 Manslaughter 20 years 2.1 27 White Male 1993 05-31-2013
Williams, Jerron Florida Miami-Dade 2013 2015 Manslaughter 50 years 2.1 31 Black Male 2015 05-15-2015
Yell, Robert Kentucky Logan 2006 2019 Manslaughter 52 years 10.9 27 White Male 2017 03-27-2019