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: 22
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Name State County Convicted Exonerated Crime Sentence Years lost Age Race Sex Posting Date
Anderson, Marvin Virginia Hanover 1982 2002 Sexual Assault Life 14.5 18 Black Male 08-29-2011
Barbour, Bennett Virginia James City 1978 2012 Sexual Assault 10 years 4.2 22 Black Male 06-27-2012
Burnette, Victor Virginia Richmond City 1979 2009 Sexual Assault 20 years 8.1 26 White Male 08-29-2011
Coker, Edgar Virginia Stafford 2007 2014 Sexual Assault 1 year and 5 months 1.5 15 Black Male 03-03-2014
Crittle, Yvonne Virginia Newport News City 1988 1997 Sexual Assault 7 years 1.9 24 White Female 02-18-2016
Cunningham, Calvin Wayne Virginia Newport News City 1981 2011 Sexual Assault 16 years 7.1 26 Black Male 08-29-2011
Davidson, Willie Virginia Norfolk City 1981 2005 Sexual Assault 20 years 11.1 24 Black Male 08-29-2011
Diamond, G. Lowell Virginia Prince William 1977 2013 Sexual Assault 15 years 5.4 24 White Male 03-15-2013
Harper, William Virginia Norfolk 1931 1931 Sexual Assault Death 0.1 22 Black Male 03-13-2018
Haynesworth, Thomas Virginia Richmond City 1984 2011 Sexual Assault 74 years 26.7 18 Black Male 02-24-2012
Honaker, Edward Virginia Nelson 1985 1994 Sexual Assault Life 9.7 33 White Male 08-29-2011
Johnson, Joshua Virginia Alexandria City 2021 2023 Sexual Assault 3 years and 6 months 0.3 29 Black Male 10-05-2023
Lawton, Steven Virginia Newport News City 1990 1997 Sexual Assault 72 years 6.4 37 Black Male 02-18-2016
McAlister, Michael Virginia Richmond City 1986 2015 Sexual Assault 35 years 28.6 29 White Male 05-18-2015
Ruffin, Julius Virginia Norfolk City 1982 2003 Sexual Assault Life 20.4 28 Black Male 08-29-2011
Scott, Winston Virginia Fairfax 1976 2019 Sexual Assault 14 years 5.3 19 Black Male 03-15-2019
Snyder, Walter Virginia Arlington 1986 1993 Sexual Assault 45 years 6.8 20 Black Male 08-29-2011
Talley, Dell Virginia Henrico 1991 1991 Sexual Assault Not Sentenced 0.3 23 Black Male 10-13-2014
Thurman, Philip Leon Virginia Alexandria City 1985 2005 Sexual Assault 31 years 19.4 29 Black Male 08-29-2011
Webb, Troy Virginia Virginia Beach 1989 1996 Sexual Assault 47 years 7.7 20 Black Male 08-29-2011
Whitfield, Arthur Lee Virginia Norfolk City 1982 2009 Sexual Assault 63 years 22.6 26 Black Male 08-29-2011
Wilson, Eric Virginia Norfolk City 1999 2017 Sexual Assault 8 1/2 years 6.2 21 White Male 03-23-2017