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.

Read Less
Total records: 23
Select More Columns:
Name State County Convicted Exonerated Crime Sentence Years lost Age Race Sex Posting Date
Barnes, Jepheth South Carolina Spartanburg 1996 2003 Child Sex Abuse 16 years 7.2 51 Black Male 09-03-2016
Bennett, Gary South Carolina Horry 2002 2020 Murder Life without parole 18.2 36 White Male 11-23-2020
Bess, Ben South Carolina Florence 1915 1929 Assault 30 years 14.4 Black Male 03-13-2018
Brett, Scott Fed-WA (Eastern) 2017 2018 Fraud Not Sentenced 0 55 White Male 12-09-2018
Cardwell, M. Donald Fed-CT 2000 2000 Tax Evasion/Fraud Not Sentenced 0 63 White Male 02-20-2013
Cooper, C.D. South Carolina Marlboro 1921 1934 Murder Life 4.7 33 White Male 03-13-2018
Credell, Cory South Carolina Orangeburg 2001 2012 Murder Life 10.5 27 Black Male 08-30-2012
Dean, Edward South Carolina Greenwood 2014 2025 Burglary 25 years 2.3 35 Black Male 07-07-2026
Dedmond, Roger Z. South Carolina Union 1967 1968 Manslaughter 18 years 0.2 28 White Male 03-13-2018
Gagnon, Richard South Carolina Horry 2008 2015 Murder Life without parole 4.9 32 White Male 06-02-2015
Harris, L.D. South Carolina Aiken 1947 1949 Murder Death 2.6 25 Black Male 03-13-2018
James, Ernestine Fed-WA (Western) 1995 1999 Manslaughter Probation 0 42 Native American Female 06-11-2014
James, Tyrone South Carolina Florence 1982 1982 Murder Life 0.2 24 Black Male 03-13-2018
Jamison, Demetrius South Carolina Orangeburg 2018 2019 Other Violent Misdemeanor 53 days 0 26 Black Male 12-20-2019
Linder, Michael South Carolina Colleton 1979 1981 Murder Death 2.0 24 White Male 03-13-2018
McNair, Daniel South Carolina Lancaster 1986 2000 Murder Life 14.0 35 Black Male 06-30-2013
Mitchell, Perry South Carolina Lexington 1984 1998 Sexual Assault 30 years 14.5 20 Black Male 08-29-2011
Pearson, Michael South Carolina Clarendon 2012 2025 Kidnapping 60 years 13.3 36 Black Male 10-03-2025
Peterson, Winfred J. South Carolina Florence 1982 1982 Murder Life 0.3 24 Black Male 03-13-2018
Roberts, Jason South Carolina Laurens 1995 2005 Murder Life 8.3 16 White Male 09-20-2016
Spade, Daniel South Carolina Spartanburg 2014 2025 Child Sex Abuse 35 years 10.2 34 White Male 02-01-2026
Vailette, John Fed-CT 2015 2018 Murder Not Sentenced 0 34 White Male 11-15-2018
Walker, Joseph South Carolina Bamberg 2003 2014 Sexual Assault 24 years 10.7 44 Black Male 11-25-2014