DNA Exoneree Case Profiles There have been 311 post-conviction DNA exonerations in United States history. These stories are becoming more familiar as more innocent people gain their freedom through postconviction testing. They are not proof, however, that our system is righting itself. The common themes that run through these cases — from global problems like poverty and racial issues to criminal justice issues like eyewitness misidentification, invalid or improper forensic science, overzealous police and prosecutors and inept defense counsel — cannot be ignored and continue to plague our criminal justice system. •Eighteen people had been sentenced to death before DNA proved their innocence and led to their release. •The average sentence served by DNA exonerees has been 13.6 years. •About 70 percent of those exonerated by DNA testing are people of color. •In almost 50 percent of DNA exoneration cases, the actual perpetrator has been identified by DNA testing. •Exonerations have been won in 35 states and Washington, D.C. •The Innocence Project was involved in 171 of the 311 DNA exonerations. Others were helped by Innocence Network organizations, private attorneys and by pro se defendants in a few instances. innocenceproject.org/know/
Posted on: Mon, 02 Dec 2013 15:57:56 +0000
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