Innocence Blog

This week in history: exoneree anniversaries

Posted: July 16, 2007 1:41 pm

Eleven years ago today, Steven Toney walked out of a Missouri prison after serving 13 years for a rape he didn’t commit. A major factor in Toney’s wrongful conviction – and in 75 percent of wrongful convictions later overturned by DNA testing – was eyewitness misidentification. In Toney’s case, both the victim and an eyewitness identified him in lineup procedures.

Fifteen years ago today, Steven Linscott of Illinois was exonerated after serving three years in prison – and seven on bond while facing pending charges – for a crime he didn’t commit. 

Others celebrating the anniversary of their exoneration this week:

Joe Jones, Kansas (Exonerated 07/17/1992)

Johnny Briscoe, Missouri (Exonerated 7/19/2006)

Perry Mitchell, South Carolina (Exonerated 7/20/98)