Innocence Blog

10 year anniversary of South Carolina exoneration

Posted: July 28, 2008 1:35 pm

Ten years ago, on July 20, 1998 — after serving almost 15 years for a rape he didn’t commit — Perry Mitchell became the first South Carolinian to be exonerated by DNA. Sunday marked the tenth anniversary of his exoneration.

Although Mitchell was allowed access to the DNA tests that ultimately freed him, his request could have easily been denied. Even now, ten years after Mitchell’s exoneration, South Carolina is one of seven states with no law guaranteeing DNA access to inmates who believe they have been wrongfully convicted. Legislation that would have ensured access to DNA testing and evidence preservation recently passed South Carolina’s legislature, only to be vetoed by Governor Mark Sanford. The governor said he couldn’t support a last-minute amendment to the bill that would have allowed DNA samples to be taken from anyone arrested for a serious crime.

Click here to learn more about the situation in South Carolina or view our interactive map to find out about the other six states lacking DNA testing access.