Conviction review
Convictions that were overturned, and innocence claims courts are ruling on this week. Read what the evidence was and where it broke.
Hector Gonzalez
In 1996, Hector Gonzalez was wrongly convicted of a murder he did not commit in New York based on eyewitness misidentification.
2026 · Supreme Court of PennsylvaniaIn courtCommonwealth v. Brown, L.; of: Family Members
Supreme Court of Pennsylvania issued an opinion on June 16, 2026 that deals with an innocence claim. From the opinion: “…the allegations therein were based on “newly discovered evidence . . . obtained from review of homicide…”
2000 · TexasExonerated 2000Roy Criner
In 1990, Roy Criner was wrongly convicted of a sexual assault he did not commit based on misapplied forensic science.
2026 · Supreme Court of IowaIn courtDonald Lee Wyldes, Jr. v. State of Iowa
Supreme Court of Iowa issued an opinion on May 29, 2026 that deals with an innocence claim. From the opinion: “…Cook (argued) and Elaina Steenson, of the Wrongful Conviction Unit, State Public Defender’s Office; M…”
2026 · Appellate Court of IllinoisIn courtPeople v. Drew
Appellate Court of Illinois issued an opinion on May 28, 2026 that deals with an innocence claim. From the opinion: “…postconviction petition arguing that newly discovered evidence established his actual innocence. He…”
2026 · New York Supreme Court, New York CountyIn courtPeople v. Ruiz
New York Supreme Court, New York County issued an opinion on April 27, 2026 that deals with an innocence claim. From the opinion: “…conviction of an innocent person. To be sure, a wrongful conviction harms the entire justice system: it causes…”
2003 · PennsylvaniaExonerated 2003Nicholas Yarris
Nicholas Yarris was finally freed from a Pennsylvania prison in 2004 after spending over 21 years behind bars for a crime he did not commit.
2026 · Court of Appeals of IowaIn courtRobert Allen Cornell v. State of Iowa
Court of Appeals of Iowa issued an opinion on April 1, 2026 that deals with an innocence claim. From the opinion: “…Elaina Steenson, Assistant Public Defender, Wrongful Conviction Unit, Des Moines, attorney…”
1996 · CaliforniaExonerated 1996Kevin Green
In 1980, Kevin Green was wrongly convicted of a murder and an attempted murder he did not commit. He was later exonerated in 1996.
2000 · KentuckyExonerated 2000William Gregory
In 1993, William Gregory was wrongly convicted of a rape and attempted rape he did not commit. He was later exonerated in 2000.
1990 · District of ColumbiaExonerated 1990Edward Green
In 1990, Edward Green was exonerated of rape in Washington, D.C. He was freed after his conviction but before being sentenced.
2001 · OhioExonerated 2001Anthony Michael Green
In 1988, Anthony Michael Green was wrongly convicted of a sexual assault he did not commit. He was later exonerated in 2001.
1999 · MarylandExonerated 1999Anthony Gray
In 1991, Anthony Gray was wrongly convicted of a murder and rape he did not commit in Maryland. He was later exonerated in 1999.
2005 · OhioExonerated 2005Clarence Elkins
On December 15, 2005, a Summit County, Ohio, judge vacated Clarence Elkins’ 1999 conviction for a rape and murder he didn't commit.
1997 · OklahomaExonerated 1997Timothy Durham
In 1993, Timothy Durham was wrongly convicted of a rape he did not commit in Oklahoma. He was later exonerated in 1997.
2015 · IllinoisExonerated 2015Angel Gonzalez
On March 10, 2015, Angel Gonzalez was exonerated after serving over 20 years in prison for a rape that he did not commit.
2007 · TexasExonerated 2007James Curtis Giles
In 1983, James Curtis Giles was wrongfully convicted of a rape in Dallas, Texas. DNA testing finally led to his exoneration in 2007.
2002 · PennsylvaniaExonerated 2002Bruce Godschalk
In May 1987, Bruce Godschalk was wrongly convicted of two counts of forcible rape and two counts of burglary in Pennsylvania.
2006 · New YorkExonerated 2006Scott Fappiano
On October 6, 2006, Scott Fappiano walked out of the Kings County Supreme Court as a free man after wrongly serving 21 years in prison.
2001 · IdahoExonerated 2001Charles Irvin Fain
In 1983, Charles Irvin Fain was wrongly convicted and sentenced to death for the murder, rape, and kidnapping of a young girl.
2005 · PennsylvaniaExonerated 2005Thomas Doswell
On August 1, 2005, Thomas Doswell was released from prison after serving almost 19 years for a crime he did not commit.
2004 · FloridaExonerated 2004Wilton Dedge
In 2004, eight years after he requested post-conviction DNA testing, Wilton Dedge was exonerated and released from a Florida prison.
2006 · New YorkExonerated 2006Jeffrey Deskovic
In 1990, 17-year old Jeffrey Deskovic was wrongfully convicted of a rape and murder in Peekskill, New York. He was exonerated by DNA in 2006.
1994 · CaliforniaExonerated 1994Frederick Daye
In 1984, Frederick Daye was wrongly convicted of a sexual assault he did not commit, in California. He was later exonerated in 1994.