At least 2 dozen men wrongly convicted or arrested on bite evidence exonerated by DNA evidence

At least 24 men convicted or arrested based largely on murky bite-mark evidence have been exonerated by DNA testing, had charges dropped or otherwise been proved not guilty. Many spent more than a decade in prison, and one man was behind bars for more than 23 years before he was exonerated.

A Ghost of Mississippi: The Willie Manning Capital Case

On the eve of his execution, state officials say there should be no DNA or fingerprint testing for a condemned man who maintains his innocence.

Justice Dept. admits flaws in forensic testimony in Mississippi death-row case

The Justice Department has acknowledged flaws in forensic testimony by the FBI that helped convict a man in the 1992 slayings of two Mississippi State University students, and federal officials have now offered to retest the DNA in the case.

Maryland abolishes the death penalty

Annapolis, Maryland – Maryland has become the first southern US state to abolish the death penalty.
Democratic Governor Martin O’Malley signed the measure on Thursday. Attending was former Maryland death row inmate Kirk Bloodsworth. He is the first person in the country freed because of DNA evidence after being convicted in a death penalty case.

Rape Suspect Denied DNA Test Is Finally Cleared

An innocent man languishes in jail in Oklahoma for three months after police tell him they did not want to waste taxpayer’s money.

Lawyers for Massachusetts man imprisoned for 41 years seek new trial in murder case

Robert Breest had the chance to walk out of prison on parole, after spending nearly half his life there — if he admitted to committing a 1971 murder. But the former Lowell carpenter, now 75, steadfastly refused.

Texas bill would require DNA tests before death-penalty trials

AUSTIN, Texas (Reuters) – A law proposed in Texas would require all biological evidence collected in cases in which the state is seeking the death penalty to undergo DNA testing before trial, a change intended to reduce the risk of an innocent person being put to death.

Innocence Project Northwest wins right to DNA testing for felons serving time in community

Felons who serve part of their prison sentence in the community may now have the right to publicly funded DNA testing, thanks to a court victory won by a student representing the University of Washington School of Law’s Innocence Project Northwest.

Northern California Innocence Project Successfully Exonerates Innocent Man of Sex Crimes He Did Not Commit

Judge Overturns Conviction After DNA Evidence Proves Johnny Williams’ Innocence

Jury awards $13.2 million to former officer wrongfully convicted in Cleveland murder

Associated Press
CLEVELAND – A federal jury has awarded a former housing authority police officer $13.2 million after deciding the officer’s civil rights were violated by two Cleveland police detectives.