It has been estimated that around 1% or 22,000 people are wrongfully incarcerated (Wagner & Rabuy, 2017). The purpose of this study was to determine if individuals who are wrongfully convicted and exonerated share similar exoneration reasons and legal factors with special emphasis on race of exoneree. Based on previous literature, the relationship between wrongful convictions and exonerations by race was studied, specifically in regards to legal factors. A systematic random sample of 374 cases were examined from the National Registry of Exonerations (The National Registry of Exonerations, 2025). Results found that Black exonerees are disproportionately affected by wrongful convictions and exonerations. While exoneration reasons do not differ by race, legal factors and time to exoneration do differ by race, with Black exonerees having the highest percentages. Policy implications and future directions will be discussed.
