Miscarriages of justice and the conviction of the innocent
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The death penalty is the only punishment that admits no correction. Every case of a person sentenced to death and later found innocent — through DNA evidence, a retracted testimony, a retrial — says something about all the cases in which the review did not arrive in time.
This page collects the news on miscarriages of justice, retrials and people cleared after a death sentence.
Latest news
SEPTEMBER 10, 2026United StatesDEATH PENALTYUSA - Florida. Daniel Conahan, 72, White, was executed on September 10
A suspected serial killer
APRIL 6, 2026OhioDEATH PENALTYUSA - Ohio. Ohio Ohioans to Stop Executions Report: every 5 executions, 1 exoneration
Death penalty ‘profoundly unreliable’
APRIL 1, 2026KentuckyDEATH PENALTYUSA - Kentucky. Bill to resume executions passed the Senate
SB 251 now goes to the Governor for signature
MARCH 13, 2026TexasDEATH PENALTYUSA - Texas. Petition for Robert Roberson
Stop the execution of Robert Roberson!
FEBRUARY 5, 2026JapanDEATH PENALTYJAPAN: COURT REJECTS RETRIAL REQUEST FOR EXECUTED MAN BELIEVED TO HAVE HAD LEPROSY
The Kumamoto District Court on January 28, 2026 rejected a retrial request from the family of a man with leprosy who was executed more than 60 years ago for a 1952 murder despite long claiming his innocence.
DECEMBER 12, 2025OhioDEATH PENALTYUSA - Ohio. Elwood Jones, now 57, Black, exonerated
Spent 27 years on death row
NOVEMBER 26, 2025LouisianaDEATH PENALTYUSA - Louisiana. Jimmie Duncan released on bail after 27 years on death row
NOVEMBER 21, 2025LouisianaDEATH PENALTYUSA - Louisiana. Judge grants bail to Jimmie Duncan, 56, White
Sentenced to death in 1998
OCTOBER 15, 2025MississippiDEATH PENALTYUSA - Mississippi. Charles Ray Crawford, 59, White, was executed on October 15
SEPTEMBER 17, 2025FloridaDEATH PENALTYUSA - Florida. David Pittman, 63, White, executed on September 17
12th execution in Florida and 31st in the US this year
AUGUST 19, 2025IllinoisDEATH PENALTYUSA - Illinois. Robert Melock, sentenced to death in 1989, obtains a “certificate of innocence” from the court
After 34 years of incarceration. Exoneree n. 201
JULY 28, 2025United StatesDEATH PENALTYUSA - Study: Do All Religions Support the Death Penalty?
JULY 14, 2025LouisianaDEATH PENALTYUSA - Louisiana. Governor signs HB 675
Limiting Post-Conviction Appeals
JUNE 17, 2025KenyaDEATH PENALTYKENYA: AFTER 18 YEARS IN JAIL, COURT APOLOGISES TO MAN SENTENCED TO DEATH
Lulu Adu was just 17 when he was sentenced to die in Kenya. Eighteen years later, a court finally acknowledged its mistake — and set him free, The Star reported on June 17, 2025.
JUNE 16, 2025ItalyDEATH PENALTYUSA - Antonio Veronese updates us on the case of John Huggins
John Huggins, 63, White, on death row in Florida
JUNE 2, 2025CaliforniaDEATH PENALTYUSA - California. New DNA testing proves innocence of Kenneth Clair
Man who has spent 40 years in prison
MARCH 25, 2025JapanDEATH PENALTYJAPAN: EXONERATED PRISONER AWARDED $1.4M AFTER 46 YEARS SPENT ON DEATH ROW
A Japanese man wrongly convicted of murder who was the world’s longest-serving death row inmate has been awarded $1.4m in compensation, an official said on March 24, 2025.
FEBRUARY 12, 2025TexasDEATH PENALTYUSA - Texas. Nuns on Texas death row
Sisters of Mary Morning Star
JANUARY 28, 2025TexasDEATH PENALTYUSA - Texas. Texas executions decline, but death penalty system remains flawed
Robert Roberson’s case is reason enough for pause
NOVEMBER 15, 2024TexasDEATH PENALTYUSA - Texas. Judge Arturo Nelson Declares Melissa Lucio to be “Actually Innocent,”
Recommends Texas CCA Overturn Conviction and Death Sentence
- OCTOBER 1, 2024United StatesDEATH PENALTY
USA - Last Week America Carried Out Its 1,600th Execution Since 1976.
When Will the Madness Stop?
OCTOBER 1, 2024TexasDEATH PENALTYUSA - Texas. Lawmakers Pray With Robert Roberson
And Urge Clemency to Stop Oct.17 Execution
SEPTEMBER 13, 2024Congo - BrazzavilleDEATH PENALTYUSA - 3 Americans and 34 Others Sentenced to Death in Congo
On Coup Charges
SEPTEMBER 12, 2024MissouriDEATH PENALTYUSA - Missouri. Court Denies Prosecutor’s Motion to Vacate Marcellus Williams’ Conviction
Williams is scheduled to be executed on September 24, 2024
SEPTEMBER 11, 2024United StatesDEATH PENALTYUSA - The Central Park 5 are exonerated. Trump doesn't seem to think so
- SEPTEMBER 10, 2024CaliforniaDEATH PENALTY
USA - California. Buddhist death row inmate Jarvis Jay Masters, backed by Oprah, vows to fight on
- SEPTEMBER 9, 2024TexasDEATH PENALTY
USA - Texas. Author John Grisham Says Texas Plans to Execute Robert Roberson, An Innocent Man
- AUGUST 22, 2024United StatesDEATH PENALTY
USA - Exonerated members of Central Park 5 warn about Trump at Democratic convention
AUGUST 14, 2024IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Dissident rapper Toomaj Salehi cleared of charge after death sentence overturned
JULY 19, 2024MissouriDEATH PENALTYUSA - Missouri. Sandra Hemme, now 64, White, was freed on July 19
After 44 years in prison for a murder she did not commit