If you faced a wrongful conviction, you may be interested in knowing how many people are wrongfully convicted of crimes. The answer is far too many, with the largest number of exonerations noted in instances of murder, sexual assault, and drug crimes. These innocent people live out unimaginable consequences, including tarnished reputations and shattered lives.
Even after exoneration, rebuilding a life from scratch can be a daunting task. Exonerees face financial hardship and the lingering stigma of their wrongful conviction. At USClaims, we understand the unique challenges faced by wrongly convicted individuals. As such, we offer pre-settlement funding as a financial lifeline to provide support for those fighting to clear their names and reclaim their lives.
Wrongful Conviction Statistics
Statistics reveal some disturbing truths about how many people are wrongfully convicted in the United States, with 233 exonerations in 2022 alone.[1] Since 1989, the justice system has exonerated 3,175 people who were wrongfully convicted, collectively spending over 27,000 years behind bars for crimes they didn’t commit.[1] The average exoneree loses 16 years of their life to wrongful imprisonment, and 2022 saw record numbers of wrongful convictions.[2][3]
Specifically, how many people are wrongly imprisoned in the United States? Experts estimate that between 6% and 15.4% of people were wrongfully convicted.[4] Given that approximately 2.3 million people are currently incarcerated, between 138,000 and 354,200 of those individuals may be wrongfully imprisoned at any given time.
The impact of wrongful convictions can spread far and wide, with wrongful convictions affecting people from all walks of life and across a range of crimes, from murder and sexual assault to drug offenses and theft. The consequences are devastating, leaving deep scars on individuals, families, communities, and society. Wrongful conviction lawsuits are one of the few ways you can clear your name if you’ve been wrongfully convicted of a crime.
Preventing Wrongful Convictions
Each wrongful conviction has its own unique story, but several common factors tend to cause them:
- Official misconduct. Sometimes, those entrusted with upholding justice betray that trust. Prosecutors may withhold evidence, coerce witnesses, or rely on flawed forensic techniques, leading to the conviction of innocent people.[5]
- Mistaken identity. Eyewitness testimony is often compelling to juries, but it’s notoriously unreliable.[6] Stress, trauma, vulnerability and suggestive police procedures can lead to inaccurate identifications.[6]
- False confessions. Under intense pressure and interrogation, even innocent people may confess to crimes they didn’t commit.[7] False confessions are particularly common in cases involving vulnerable individuals, such as young people and individuals with mental health issues.[7]
- Inadequate defense. Public defenders who are heavily burdened with caseloads and limited resources may not be able to provide the comprehensive defense their clients deserve. As a result, they can miss opportunities to uncover the truth and challenge the prosecution’s case.
Pre-settlement funding is available to qualifying cases involved in wrongful conviction lawsuits, providing much-needed financial support — usually within 24 hours.
Famous Cases of Wrongful Convictions
High-profile cases of people who were wrongfully convicted have brought the issue into the national spotlight. The stories below underscore the power of DNA evidence and the necessity of post-conviction review processes.
- Marilyn Mulero
Marilyn Mulero was wrongfully convicted of murder after Chicago detectives coerced a false confession from her. This included intimidation tactics, such as mimicking a gunshot to her head. At just 21, Mulero was initially sentenced to death, but her legal team got her sentence commuted to life without parole. A judge finally overturned her conviction in 2022, and she joined dozens of other cases dismissed due to a single detective’s misconduct. Her case underscores the dangers of coerced confessions and the long-lasting impact of official misconduct.[8]
- Joyce Watkins
Joyce Watkins and her boyfriend, Charlie Dunn, were wrongfully convicted of murdering Joyce’s 4-year-old grandniece. The case hinged on a medical examiner’s flawed report, which was later proven wrong by new evidence. The Tennessee Innocence Project and the Davidson County District Attorney’s Conviction Review Unit led a reinvestigation that revealed that the original prosecution failed to disclose exculpatory evidence that may have prevented their wrongful convictions. Although Dunn passed away in 2015, Watkins lived to see her name cleared in 2022.[9]
- Vincent Simmons
The state convicted Vincent Simmons of attempted rape in 1977, largely based on the testimony of two 14-year-old girls. Official misconduct marred his trial. Medical records and witness statements that would have exonerated him were withheld. Simmons spent 44 years in prison, making him one of the longest-serving exonerees in a no-crime case. His exoneration in 2022 highlighted the severe consequences of prosecutorial misconduct and the importance of thorough post-conviction review.[10]
Legal and Financial Compensation for the Wrongfully Convicted
Exonerees face a daunting path to recovery. They must often contend with physical and mental health problems, as well as the lingering stigma of their wrongful conviction. Wrongful conviction laws vary widely by state, as do wrongful convictions statistics, and some are more prone to wrongfully convicting innocent individuals. Additionally, while some states provide compensation, many exonerees receive little or no financial support, leaving them to rebuild their lives with limited resources.
Even in areas with compensation programs, navigating the legal system and finding adequate support can be an uphill battle for exonerees. To qualify, they typically need to prove their innocence and meet certain criteria, and the application process can be complex and time-consuming. Beyond financial compensation, exonerees need access to comprehensive support services, such as job training and housing assistance.
USClaims Offers Pre-Settlement Funding that Can Help
At USClaims, we offer wrongful conviction settlement funding to qualified applicants. Eligible plaintiffs can receive a cash advance against future settlements. We assume the financial risk, so if you don’t win your case, you owe us nothing.
To learn more about how pre-settlement funding works or to see if you qualify, contact us today. We’re here to support you on your journey to justice and provide the financial assistance you need to move forward. You can also check out our settlement funding FAQ page for more information. We’ve helped numerous clients secure the funding they need to pursue justice, and we’re proud to have attorney testimonials that speak to our commitment and success.
Apply now or call us today at 1-877-USCLAIMS to learn more.
The availability of pre-settlement funding varies by state. Contact USClaims for more information.
Sources
- The National Registry of Exonerations. “2022 Annual Report: The National Registry of Exonerations.” The National Registry of Exonerations, 2023, law.umich.edu/special/exoneration/Documents/NRE%20Annual%20Report%202022.pdf.
- “Our Impact: By the Numbers – Innocence Project.” Innocence Project, 27 June 2024, innocenceproject.org/exonerations-data.
- Lartey, Jamiles. “U.S. Exonerations Hit A Record High in 2022.” The Marshall Project, 20 May 2023, www.themarshallproject.org/2023/05/20/wrongful-conviction-exoneration-2022-record-kim-foxx.
- Brooks, Samantha K., and Neil Greenberg. “Psychological Impact of Being Wrongfully Accused of Criminal Offences: A Systematic Literature Review.” Medicine Science and the Law, vol. 61, no. 1, Aug. 2020, pp. 44–54. https://doi.org/10.1177/0025802420949069.
- “The Impact of False or Misleading Forensic Evidence on Wrongful Convictions | National Institute of Justice.” National Institute of Justice, nij.ojp.gov/topics/articles/impact-false-or-misleading-forensic-evidence-wrongful-convictions.
- “Myth: Eyewitness Testimony Is the Best Kind of Evidence.” Association for Psychological Science – APS, www.psychologicalscience.org/uncategorized/myth-eyewitness-testimony-is-the-best-kind-of-evidence.html.
- Gudjonsson, Gisli H. “The Science-Based Pathways to Understanding False Confessions and Wrongful Convictions.” Frontiers in Psychology, vol. 12, Feb. 2021, https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.633936.
- “Marilyn Mulero – the Innocence Center.” The Innocence Center, theinnocencecenter.org/case/marilyn-mulero.
- Joyce Watkins – National Registry of Exonerations. www.law.umich.edu/special/exoneration/Pages/casedetail.aspx?caseid=6096.
- Vincent Simmons – National Registry of Exonerations. www.law.umich.edu/special/exoneration/Pages/casedetail.aspx?caseid=6146.