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: 123
Export More Data
Select More Columns:
Name State County Convicted Exonerated Crime Sentence Years lost Age Race Sex Date of Release Posting Date
Shaughnessy, Eric Massachusetts Suffolk 1997 1998 Assault 5 years 0.5 21 White Male 1997 10-07-2012
Silva-Santiago, Jesus Massachusetts Plymouth 2006 2010 Murder Life without parole 4.2 28 Hispanic Male 2010 10-06-2013
Smigielski, Amy Massachusetts Hampden 2009 2012 Weapon Possession or Sale 1 year and 6 months 1.4 37 White Female 2011 11-06-2017
Sprinkle, Keyon Massachusetts Suffolk 2002 2020 Murder Life 17.9 17 Black Male 2020 05-22-2020
Stewart, Charles Kevin Massachusetts Middlesex 1988 1994 Child Sex Abuse 15 to 25 years 0 30 White Male 1988 03-25-2026
Stewart, Thea Massachusetts Middlesex 1988 1994 Child Sex Abuse 7 to 15 years 0 26 White Female 1988 03-25-2026
Sullivan, Harold Massachusetts Bristol 1986 1990 Murder Life 4.6 31 White Male 1990 08-29-2011
Sullivan, Michael Massachusetts Middlesex 1987 2019 Murder Life without parole 25.8 25 White Male 2013 03-07-2019
Tameleo, Henry Massachusetts Suffolk 1968 2001 Murder Death 17.0 63 White Male 1985 08-29-2011
Taylor, Harold Massachusetts Suffolk 1927 1927 Robbery 4 to 7 years 0.1 Don't Know Male 1927 03-13-2018
Toro, Angel Massachusetts Suffolk 1983 2004 Murder Life 1.5 30 White Male 1984 08-29-2011
Usher, Cornelius Massachusetts Essex 1902 1904 Burglary 3 to 5 years 2.0 Don't Know Male 1904 03-13-2018
Vargas-Cintron, Johnny Massachusetts Middlesex 2011 2013 Drug Possession or Sale 7 years 2.1 34 Hispanic Male 2013 11-08-2013
Velasquez, Eduardo Massachusetts Hampden 1988 2001 Sexual Assault 12 to 18 years 12.7 22 Hispanic Male 2001 08-29-2011
Wainwright, George Massachusetts Suffolk 1905 1911 Child Abuse 10 to 15 years 5.7 Don't Know Male 1911 10-06-2025
Ward, Joseph Massachusetts Suffolk 1895 1896 Theft 5 years 0.8 20 Don't Know Male 1896 03-13-2018
Washburn, Michael Massachusetts Bristol 2002 2003 Child Sex Abuse 4 years 0.4 20 White Male 2003 11-17-2017
Waters, Kenneth Massachusetts Middlesex 1983 2001 Murder Life 17.8 25 White Male 2001 08-29-2011
Watson, James Massachusetts Suffolk 1981 2020 Murder Life without parole 38.7 20 Black Male 2020 11-25-2020
Weichel, Fred Massachusetts Norfolk 1981 2017 Murder Life without parole 35.7 28 White Male 2017 08-10-2017
Wilhite, Charles Massachusetts Hampden 2010 2013 Murder Life without parole 2.1 25 Black Male 2013 02-04-2013
Williams, Clarence Massachusetts Suffolk 2002 2020 Murder Life 17.9 25 Black Male 2020 05-22-2020
Wright, Edward Massachusetts Hampden 1985 2025 Murder Life without parole 40.3 22 Black Male 2025 09-08-2025