Conviction review
Convictions that were overturned, and innocence claims courts are ruling on this week. Read what the evidence was and where it broke.
John Dixon
In July 1991, John Dixon was wrongfully convicted of a rape in Irvington, New Jersey. He was exonerated by DNA testing in December 2001.
1981 · New YorkExonerated 2016Clifford Jones
In 1981, Clifford Jones was wrongly convicted of a murder her did not commit in New York. He was later exonerated in 2016.
2002 · TexasExonerated 2002Richard Danziger
In 1990, Richard Danziger was wrongly convicted of a sexual assault he did not commit in Texas. He was later exonerated in 2002.
2002 · TexasExonerated 2002Christopher Ochoa
In 1989, Christopher Ochoa was wrongly convicted of a murder he did not commit in Texas. He was later exonerated in 2002.
1991 · New YorkExonerated 1991Charles Dabbs
In 1984, Charles Dabbs was wrongly convicted of a rape he did not commit in New York. He was later exonerated in 1991.
1995 · West VirginiaExonerated 1995Dewey Davis
In 1987, Dewey Davis was wrongly convicted of sexual assault, sexual abuse, and abduction in West Virginia.
1995 · West VirginiaExonerated 1995Gerald Davis
In 1986, Gerald Davis was wrongly convicted of kidnapping and two counts of sexual assault in West Virginia.
1995 · North CarolinaExonerated 1995Ronald Cotton
In 1995, Ronald Cotton was exonerated of a rape in North Carolina, after spending over 10 years in prison for a crime he did not commit.
2004 · MassachusettsExonerated 2004Stephan Cowans
On February 2, 2004, Stephan Cowans was exonerated by DNA testing of the armed assault and and attempted murder of a police officer.
2012 · OklahomaExonerated 2012Sedrick Courtney
In 1996, Sedrick Courtney was wrongfully convicted of an armed robbery in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and subsequently spent 15 years in prison.
1995 · New YorkExonerated 1995Terry Chalmers
In 1987, Terry Chalmers was wrongly convicted of a sexual assault he did not commit in New York. He was later exonerated in 1995.
2000 · TexasExonerated 2000A.B. Butler
A.B. Butler was wrongly convicted in 1983 in Smith County, Texas, of aggravated kidnapping and rape. He was later pardoned in 2000.
1992 · New YorkExonerated 1992Leonard Callace
In 1987, Leonard Callace was wrongly convicted of the sexual assault of an 18-year-old nursing home aide in New York.
2007 · New YorkExonerated 2007Roy Brown
In 1992, Roy Brown was wrongly convicted of a murder he did not commit in New York. He was later exonerated in 2007.
1999 · LouisianaExonerated 1999Clyde Charles
In 1982, Clyde Charles was wrongly convicted of a sexual assault based on eyewitness misidentification and misapplied forensic science.
1999 · New JerseyExonerated 1999McKinley Cromedy
In 1994, McKinley Cromedy was wrongly convicted of a sexual assault he did not commit based on eyewitness misidentification.
2026 · Appellate Court of IllinoisIn courtPeople v. Anderson
Appellate Court of Illinois issued an opinion on January 23, 2026 that deals with an innocence claim. From the opinion: “…was later exonerated and won a wrongful conviction suit. ¶ 92 Reeves recalled that…”
1980 · LouisianaExonerated 2018Malcolm Alexander
Ineffective trial lawyer and flawed eyewitness identification procedure destroyed the lives of Malcolm Alexander and his family for 38 years.
1993 · MarylandExonerated 1993Kirk Bloodsworth
Kirk Bloodsworth, a former Marine in Maryland, was the first person to be sentenced to death and subsequently exonerated.
2006 · FloridaExonerated 2006Orlando Boquete
In 2006, Orlando Boquete’s conviction for attempted sexual battery and burglary was vacated after DNA excluded him as the perpetrator.
2016 · North CarolinaExonerated 2016Timothy Bridges
Timothy Bridges served 25 years for a rape and burglary he didn't commit, largely based on erroneous testimony of a state hair analyst.
1994 · CaliforniaExonerated 1994Mark Diaz Bravo
In 1990, Mark Diaz Bravo was wrongly convicted of a sexual assault he did not commit in Los Angeles. He was later exonerated in 1994.
1994 · PennsylvaniaExonerated 1994Dale Brison
In 1991, Dale Brison was wrongly convicted of a sexual assault based on eyewitness misidentification and misapplied forensic science.
2026 · Court of Appeals of IowaIn courtStephen Shawn Keyes v. State of Iowa
Court of Appeals of Iowa issued an opinion on January 7, 2026 that deals with an innocence claim. From the opinion: “…Cook (argued) of the State Public Defender Wrongful Conviction Unit, and Tara Thompson (pro hac vice) of…”