Recently, the Virginia Supreme Court found that DNA evidence proved Winston Scott’s innocence of a 1975 rape, easily dismissing the arguments of the Office of the Attorney General (OAG) that the DNA was meaningless.
Read MoreC-SPAN (Video): Speaking at Community Organizing event with Ralph Nader
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Washington Post OpEd: Eyewitness testimony in an imperfect world
" In a perfect world, it wouldn't happen ," said D.C. Attorney General Peter Nickles, speaking of the error -- a mistaken identification -- that led to his office charging an innocent 14-year-old with 41 crimes, including four counts of first-degree murder while armed. "I wish it didn't happen."
Read MoreSlate: Justice After Injustice
What happens after a wrongfully convicted person is exonerated—and the witness finds out she identified the wrong man.
Read MoreVIDEO: Thomas Haynesworth Exoneration Press Conference
On December 6, 2011, Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli announced the full exoneration of Thomas Haynesworth, a man that had been wrongly convicted of sexual assault in 1984. He spent 27 years behind bars for crimes he did not commit. With the help of the Innocence Project, two commonwealth's attorneys, and Attorney General Cuccinelli, Haynesworth is now a free man.
Read MoreActs of empathy: Thomas Haynesworth meets accuser for first time (Video)
Thomas Haynesworth meets accuser for first time
Thomas E. Haynesworth talks about meeting Janet Burke, the woman who mistakenly identified him as her rapist, sending him to prison for 27 years. He was released several years ago when DNA testing identified another man as the one who committed the crime.
Read More“My release from jail was one of the greatest days of my life. My mom and sister picked me up from the prison facilities and took me home. It fulfilled a dream I never thought would actually come true.”
Case of mistaken identity takes 29 years of Michael Kenneth McAlister life
Mike McAlister walked out of prison on May 13, 2015 after serving more than 29 years for a crime he did not commit. McAlister received an absolute pardon from Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe, fully exonerating him.
“My release from jail was one of the greatest days of my life. My mom and sister picked me up from the prison facilities and took me home. It fulfilled a dream I never thought would actually come true.” – Michael McAlisterRead More
“Yesterday was a wonderful day. We were able to take Michael home and have our first family dinner in almost 12 years.”
Michael Wayne Hash murder conviction tossed after 12 years
A U.S. federal judge throws out the 2001 capital murder conviction of Michael Wayne Hash
Yesterday was a wonderful day. We were able to take Michael home and have our first family dinner in almost 12 years.
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“I am being counted as a person again.”
Sabein Burgess cleared of murder after 19 years in prison
Sabein Burgess was convicted of murdering his girlfriend in 1995 based solely on gunshot residue testimony. Almost 20 years later (2014), MAIP and co-counsel Steptoe and Johnson determined that based on new research, the gunshot residue testimony was not scientifically sound.
I am being counted as a person again.Read More
The Diane Rehm Show: Wrongful Convictions and DNA Evidence
In the past 21 years, more than 250 convicted felons have been exonerated by DNA evidence. Diane and her panel talk about the causes of wrongful convictions and ongoing efforts to free the innocent.
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Thomas Haynesworth exonerated in rape case after 27 years in prison
A Virginia appeals court declared Thomas Haynesworth an innocent man Tuesday, clearing his name and acknowledging that he spent 27 years behind bars for a series of rapes he did not commit.
There are a lot of people behind the scenes who believed in me. Twenty-seven years, I never gave up.Read More