TOO MANY WRONGFULLY CONVICTED - The Innocence Project

0KEVIN RICHARDSON20025.5 YEARSNEW YORKKevin Richardson,who was 14 years oldat the time, was one offive teenagers convictedin the attack of aULLYCentral Park joggerCONVICTEDin1989. Because thevictim had no memoryof the assault, policefocused on a groupof youths who werealready in policecustody for othercrimes perpetrated inthe park that night.In 2002, all five menYUSEF SALAAM • 20025.5 YEARSNEW YORKRAYMOND SANTANA20025 YEARSNEW YORKKHAREY WISE • 200211.5 YEARSNEW YORKWRONGFULLY CONVICTEDwere proven innocentthrough DNA testing.Yusef Salaam wasconvicted of rape andassault in connectionwith the 1989 CentralPark jogger case. Hewas the only one offive teenagers convictedwho did not give avideotaped confession.In 2002, all five menwere deemed innocentafter DNA testing wasconducted on severalpieces of evidence,including a rape kitand hairs found onthe victim.Raymond Santanafalsely confessed toinvolvement in theCentral Park joggercase of 1989. He andfive other teenagers,between the ages of14 and 16 years old,were convicted of thiscrime. In 2002, anotherman who had beenconvicted of similarcrimes confessed thathe alone committedthe Central Park joggerattack, and all fivemen were exoneratedafter DNA testingconfirmed his admission.Kharey Wise wasone of five teenagersconvicted inconnection with theCentral Park joggercase. He and threeof his co-defendantsgave videotapedconfessions thatdiffered significantlyon key details of thecrime. In retrospect itis clear that the youngmen did not knowwhere, how, or whenthe attack took place.In 2002, all five menwere deemed innocentafter DNA testing.DANA HOLLAND • 20038 YEARSILLINOISDana Holland wasimprisoned for a decadefor two wrongfulconvictions: a rape,an armed robbery andan attempted murder.On the morning of therape, officers tracedthe suspect’s footprintsto Holland’s apartmentbuilding. The Centeron Wrongful Convictionstook his case andsecured DNA testing,which exoneratedHolland in 2003.He was retried for thearmed robbery andattempted murder(for which there wasno DNA evidence)and acquitted.25% were convictedbased at least in part26 | Innocence Project