20 Years Ago...

• 5 people had been exonerated through DNA testing
• No state had a DNA access law for prisoners with claims of innocence
• 11 states and the District of Columbia provided compensation to the wrongfully convicted
• 286 defendants received death sentences in 1992
• 1.3 million people were incarcerated
• Two legal organizations processed innocence claims in the U.S.
• $0 in federal funds were devoted to wrongful convictions

Today...

• 292 people have been exonerated through DNA testing, 17 of them served time on death row
• 49 states have a DNA access law
• Over half of the states provide compensation to the wrongfully convicted
• 78 defendants received death sentences in 2011
• 2.3 million people are incarcerated
• Over 60 legal organizations process innocence claims in the U.S.
• $5.5 million in federal funds are devoted to wrongful convictions