Innocence
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Innocent people released from death row, including two people assisted by EJI, attend a
Chicago conference on innocence and the death penalty. EJI Director Bryan Stevenson
gave the keynote address.
Since 1973, more than 130 people have been released from death row after evidence of their innocence was uncovered. For every 8 people executed in this country, one innocent person has been exonerated.
Seven people have been exonerated in Alabama. Walter McMillian, Randall Padgett, Gary Drinkard, Louis Griffin, Wesley Quick, James Cochran, and Charles Bufford are among those found not guilty of the crimes that originally put them on Alabama's death row. The astounding error rate in capital punishment is a serious indictment against the death penalty.
Since its inception, EJI has obtained relief for dozens of death row prisoners who were illegally convicted or sentenced to death. EJI represents condemned prisoners on death row, the incarcerated who have been sentenced to excessive and harsh terms of imprisonment, children sentenced to adult prisons, the mentally ill and others who have been unfairly or unreliably convicted. In 2006, EJI won freedom for several people who had been sentenced to life imprisonment with no parole for non-violent drug offenses or other petty crimes. EJI has won relief for a mentally retarded man who was wrongfully sentenced to death and is defending dozens of poor people who have been sentenced to death and denied adequate legal assistance which resulted in wrongful convictions.
News
Supreme Court Denies Review in Texas Case Where State Relied on Defendant's Race to Obtain Death Sentence
November 10, 2011The United States Supreme Court, over a forceful dissent, this week refused to review the case of Texas death row prisoner Duane Buck, leaving intact a death sentence marred by racial overtones and undermined by the misleading statements of Texas prosecutors.
Texas Execution of a Man Believed to Be Innocent Continues to Draw Attention
November 1, 2011The Texas Forensic Science Commission on Friday found that unreliable fire science methods, which led to the wrongful conviction of Cameron Todd Willingham, are still in use.
Appeals Court Orders New Trial For Death Row Prisoner
September 30, 2011The Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals today reversed Montez Spradley's conviction and death sentence because the bulk of the State's evidence against him was improperly admitted, resulting in a "miscarriage of justice."
State of Alabama Executes Derrick Mason Even Though Sentencing Judge Admits His Death Sentence Was a Mistake
September 22, 2011The State of Alabama executed Derrick Mason today even though the sentencing judge who condemned him to die admitted his judgment was a mistake, born of his own inexperience and that of Mr. Mason's trial lawyers.
Troy Davis Executed in Georgia Despite Evidence of Innocence
September 21, 2011The State of Georgia executed Troy Davis tonight, despite evidence that he is innocent of the killing for which he was sentenced to death and despite a massive campaign by hundreds of thousands of supporters worldwide.
Alabama’s Exonerated
Describing cases of persons exonerated and released from Alabama’s death row.
Anthony Ray Hinton
Facts and news coverage on the case of an innocent man who has spent 20 years on Alabama’s death row for crimes he did not commit.
Walter McMillian spent over six years on Alabama’s death row before his innocence was proven by lawyers from EJI and he was released.
Diane Tucker was convicted and sent to prison for a murder that never happened.
"Death in Dixie"
Documentary short film examining race and capital punishment in Alabama.