The state of Connecticut has awarded exoneree Kenneth Ireland $6 million in compensation for a wrongful rape and murder conviction that sent him to prison for 21 years. In 1989, Ireland was convicted for the 1986 rape and murder of Barbara…
Detroit resident Donya Davis, who served nearly seven years behind bars for a wrongful rape conviction, was recently exonerated after post-conviction DNA testing revealed his innocence. Although DNA tests were performed on a rape kit obtained from the victim and…
The National Academy of Sciences published a breakthrough report Thursday evaluating scientific research on memory and eyewitness identification. As eyewitness misidentification is one of the leading causes of wrongful convictions in the United States, the report recommends best practices to…
NCIP is proud to announce that SB 980, a bill that improves the process for obtaining post conviction DNA testing, passed the California State Senate today. The bill, authored by Senator Ted Lieu and sponsored by NCIP and other organizations,…
The U.S. Department of Justice recently notified their federal law enforcement officials that effective July 11, they will be required to video record interrogations of suspects in custody, with few exceptions. After more than a century of prohibiting the recording…
Numerous studies have shown that eyewitness identification of a suspect is a problematic form of evidence – eyewitness misidentification has played a part in nearly 75% of wrongful convictions overturned through DNA testing. Nevertheless, eyewitness testimony is an incredibly influential…
On February 12, 2014, Chairman John D. (Jay) Rockefeller introduced The Forensic Science and Standards Act of 2014 to improve forensic science reform efforts by prioritizing scientific research and supporting long-term cooperation between scientists and various members of the criminal…
Prosecutors have agreed that the murder conviction of Cleveland Wright, 55, should be dismissed due to DNA testing that exonerated his co-defendant in 2012. In 1978, Wright and his childhood friend Santae Tribble were accused and charged for murdering two…
Joseph Frey was exonerated with the help of attorneys at the Wisconsin Innocence Project after spending nearly 20 years in prison for a wrongful conviction. In 1994, Frey was convicted of sexually assaulting a female college student at knifepoint and…
The Oregon Supreme Court unanimously ruled earlier this month to change the way that eyewitness identification can be used in criminal trials. The ruling shifts the burden of proof to prosecutors. The prosecution must now show that identification evidence is…
