Innocence Project: By the Numbers (2024)

3,942

years Innocence Project clients collectively spent wrongfully incarcerated

203

Innocence Project clients exonerated by DNA

Jaythan Kendrick is exonerated from a 1995 murder conviction on Nov. 19, 2020 in New York. (Image: Ben Hider/AP Images for Innocence Project)

251

Innocence Project victories to date

Defining Data Set These numbers provide a snapshot of wrongful convictions remedied with the help of the Innocence Project. They are based on a data set of information drawn from the case documents of DNA exonerations, non-DNA exonerations, and other legal victories.Numbers stated are current as of Sept. 30, 2024.

3,942

years Innocence Project clients collectively spent wrongfully incarcerated

Jaythan Kendrick is exonerated from a 1995 murder conviction on Nov. 19, 2020 in New York. (Image: Ben Hider/AP Images for Innocence Project)

251

Innocence Project victories to date

Defining Data Set These numbers provide a snapshot of wrongful convictions remedied with the help of the Innocence Project. They are based on a data set of information drawn from the case documents of DNA exonerations, non-DNA exonerations, and other legal victories.Numbers stated are current as of Sept. 30, 2024.

203

Innocence Project clients exonerated by DNA

DNA has played a crucial role in proving innocence and solving crimes

In 1992, Barry Scheck and Peter Neufeld realized that if DNA technology could prove people guilty of crimes, it could also prove that people who had been wrongfully convicted were innocent. So they started the Innocence Project as a legal clinic at the Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law.

Since then, DNA testing and analysis has become vital to exonerating innocent people and driving criminal justice reform. Decades of data on DNA-related and non-DNA exonerations expose systemic vulnerabilities. The Innocence Project fights to redress these systemic issues through strategic litigation, policy reform, and education. This page explores a sample of the demographics of our exonerated clients, as well as the factors that contributed to their wrongful convictions.

Wrongful convictions are life-altering experiences with lifelong consequences

Innocence Project: By the Numbers (1)

27

average age when wrongly convicted; 44 average age when exonerated

9% of the 251 people were sentenced to death

Malcolm Alexander wrongfully incarcerated for nearly four decades of his life

74

estimated number of exonerees who have not received compensation for their wrongful convictions. Fourteen states do not have a compensation law at all.

Innocence Project: By the Numbers (3)

27

average age when wrongly convicted; 44 average age when exonerated

Malcolm Alexander wrongfully incarcerated for nearly four decades of his life

74

estimated number of exonerees who have not received compensation for their wrongful convictions. Fourteen states do not have a compensation law at all.

9% of the 251 people were sentenced to death

Correcting wrongful convictions impacts communities

101

additional violent crimes were committed while an innocent person was imprisoned in the original attacker’s place — including 56 sexual assaults, 22 murders, and 23 other violent crimes

89

people who actually committed the crime were identified from the 251 client exonerations and releases

34

states (plus D.C.) where Innocence Project client victories have been won

John Galvan, Arthur Almendarez, and Francisco Nanez Are Exonerated in Alleged Aggravated Arson and Murder Case

101

additional violent crimes were committed while an innocent person was imprisoned in the original attacker’s place — including 56 sexual assaults, 22 murders, and 23 other violent crimes

34

states (plus D.C.) where Innocence Project client victories have been won

89

people who actually committed the crime were identified from the 251 client exonerations and releases

John Galvan, Arthur Almendarez, and Francisco Nanez Are Exonerated in Alleged Aggravated Arson and Murder Case

Innocence Project cases reflect the disproportionate impact of wrongful convictions on Black people in the U.S.

58%

Black

8%

Latinx

33%

white

2% Asian American, Native American, or self-identified “other”

From Emmett Till to Pervis Payne — Black Men in America Are Still Killed for Crimes They Didn’t Commit

58%

Black

33%

white

8%

Latinx

2% Asian American, Native American, or self-identified “other”

From Emmett Till to Pervis Payne — Black Men in America Are Still Killed for Crimes They Didn’t Commit

Exonerations teach us about the most common causes of wrongful conviction

63%involved eyewitness misidentification
28%involved false confessions
19%involved informants
53%involved misapplied forensic science
63%involved eyewitness misidentification
19%involved informants
28%involved false confessions
53%involved misapplied forensic science

Lessons from Innocence Project DNA cases

Intake

Since 1993, the Innocence Project has received over 65,600 letters from incarcerated individuals seeking help in proving their innocence. The intake team processes the letters chronologically, and thoroughly reviews each case request received.

65,600+

letters received

Meet the team that reads thousand of letters

Review

For our DNA exoneration work, the Innocence Project conducts an extensive evaluation of cases to determine whether the identity of the perpetrator is at issue, whether the perpetrator potentially left behind biological evidence, whether the biological evidence was collected, and what new testing may be conducted on the evidence.

Ten Years Later: The Lasting Impact of the 2009 NAS Report

$5,000- $50,000

range of costs for DNA testing of evidence for one case

Litigation

Once DNA cases are selected, our lawyers work to access the evidence for DNA testing through the consent of the State or court proceedings and litigating on behalf of the client and work to secure relief based on exculpatory evidence. This process can take decades before an exoneration occurs.

‘The Best News I’ve Heard in All My Life’: Termaine Hicks Is Exonerated After 19 Years of Wrongful Incarceration

16

average years served before exoneration

David Vasquez one of the first people Innocence Project helped exonerate through DNA

Intake

Since 1993, the Innocence Project has received over 65,600 letters from incarcerated individuals seeking help in proving their innocence. The intake team processes the letters chronologically, and thoroughly reviews each case request received.

65,600+

letters received

Meet the team that reads thousand of letters

Review

For our DNA exoneration work, the Innocence Project conducts an extensive evaluation of cases to determine whether the identity of the perpetrator is at issue, whether the perpetrator potentially left behind biological evidence, whether the biological evidence was collected, and what new testing may be conducted on the evidence.

Ten Years Later: The Lasting Impact of the 2009 NAS Report

$5,000- $50,000

range of costs for DNA testing of evidence for one case

Litigation

Once DNA cases are selected, our lawyers work to access the evidence for DNA testing through the consent of the State or court proceedings and litigating on behalf of the client and work to secure relief based on exculpatory evidence. This process can take decades before an exoneration occurs.

16

average years served before exoneration

David Vasquez one of the first people Innocence Project helped exonerate through DNA
‘The Best News I’ve Heard in All My Life’: Termaine Hicks Is Exonerated After 19 Years of Wrongful Incarceration
Innocence Project: By the Numbers (15)

Read more about DNA’s revolutionary role in freeing the innocent.

Learn More

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Innocence Project: By the Numbers (2024)
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