The National Registry of Exonerations defines an exoneration as occurring when a person who has been convicted of a crime is officially cleared after new evidence of innocence becomes available.
October 08, 2025
high
definition
Operational definition of 'exoneration' used by the National Registry of Exonerations.
The National Registry of Exonerations has tracked more than 3,700 exonerations in the United States since 1989.
January 01, 1989
high
statistical
Count of recorded exonerations maintained by the National Registry of Exonerations and the start year for its tracking.