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Study: Record number of US convicts cleared in 2013 Study: Record number of US convicts cleared in 2013
(about 1 hour later)
The number of US convicts cleared of their alleged crimes reached a record high in 2013, a new study reports.The number of US convicts cleared of their alleged crimes reached a record high in 2013, a new study reports.
The National Registry of Exonerations said 87 people were cleared last year. It has recorded 1,281 exonerations in the US since 1989.The National Registry of Exonerations said 87 people were cleared last year. It has recorded 1,281 exonerations in the US since 1989.
The previous highest number of exonerations was in 2009, but the registry continues to add past data. The previous annual high came in 2009, with 83, but the registry continues to add past data.
The report put the rise down to a growing responsiveness among authorities to claims of innocence.The report put the rise down to a growing responsiveness among authorities to claims of innocence.
The state of Texas led the US with 13 exonerated cases, the report said.The state of Texas led the US with 13 exonerated cases, the report said.
Illinois and New York also had a high number of people exonerated of crimes for which they had spent time in prison.Illinois and New York also had a high number of people exonerated of crimes for which they had spent time in prison.
Guilty pleasGuilty pleas
The 2013 report from the National Registry of Exonerations, a project of the University of Michigan and Northwestern University law schools, noted those who were cleared last year were convicted on average more than 12 years ago.The 2013 report from the National Registry of Exonerations, a project of the University of Michigan and Northwestern University law schools, noted those who were cleared last year were convicted on average more than 12 years ago.
Fewer convicts were exonerated by DNA evidence than in previous years, the report released on Tuesday found. A senior researcher at the registry, Maurice Possley, told the BBC the large number of cases in which DNA helped win exonerations has lent credibility to convicts' claims of innocence in the eyes of the courts and the prosecutors.
A senior researcher at the registry, Maurice Possley, told the BBC the growing number of cases in which DNA helped win exonerations has lent credibility to convicts' claims of innocence in the eyes of the courts and the prosecutors.
"DNA has given us this window into the criminal justice system and what can go wrong," he said. Now, claims of innocence are less likely to be dismissed "out of hand"."DNA has given us this window into the criminal justice system and what can go wrong," he said. Now, claims of innocence are less likely to be dismissed "out of hand".
"It's a more level playing field," he said."It's a more level playing field," he said.
The report found 17% of those cleared had pleaded guilty to the alleged crimes, likely under pressure from prosecutors who threatened to pursue more aggressive charges with longer sentences if defendants went to trial.The report found 17% of those cleared had pleaded guilty to the alleged crimes, likely under pressure from prosecutors who threatened to pursue more aggressive charges with longer sentences if defendants went to trial.
However, the report noted those who pleaded guilty despite their innocence were far less likely to receive assistance in contesting their case later on. However, the report noted those who pleaded guilty despite their innocence were far less likely to receive assistance in contesting their cases later on.
Many of the cases, 47%, were for homicide, including one exoneration of a defendant who had been sentenced to death. Of the cases reported by the project, 47% were for homicide, including one exoneration of a defendant who had been sentenced to death.
And almost a third of the people cleared were convicted in cases in which no crime in fact had occurred, the researchers found. And almost a third of the people cleared were convicted in cases in which no crime in fact had been committed, the researchers found.
A little more than a third of the exonerations happened with the initiative or co-operation of law enforcement.A little more than a third of the exonerations happened with the initiative or co-operation of law enforcement.
"Police and prosecutors appear to be taking increasingly active roles in reinvestigating possible false convictions, and to be more responsive to claims of innocence from convicted defendants," the authors wrote."Police and prosecutors appear to be taking increasingly active roles in reinvestigating possible false convictions, and to be more responsive to claims of innocence from convicted defendants," the authors wrote.
The exonerated convicts were pardoned, had charges dismissed by the courts, were acquitted on retrial, or were issued "certificates of innocence" or the like by a court.The exonerated convicts were pardoned, had charges dismissed by the courts, were acquitted on retrial, or were issued "certificates of innocence" or the like by a court.
Among the more than eighty cases of exoneration in 2013:Among the more than eighty cases of exoneration in 2013: