Data shows that 87% of Black exonerees who were sentenced to death were victims of official misconduct, compared to 67% of white death row exonerees. Official misconduct is more common in death penalty cases, especially if the defendant is Black. 5 The National Registry of Exonerations, “ Exonerations in 2018” (Apr. Concealing evidence that casts doubt on the defendant’s guilt is t he most common type of misconduct, which includes police officers threatening witnesses, forensic analysts faking test results, and prosecutors presenting false testimony. Misconduct by police or prosecutors (or both) was involved in 79% of homicide exonerations in 2018.
4 The National Registry of Exonerations, “ Exonerations in 2018” (Apr. In 50 of these cases, the defendant was falsely accused of a crime that never happened. A record 111 exonerations in 2018 involved witnesses who lied on the stand or falsely accused the defendant. 3 Robert Dunham, “ The Most Common Causes of Wrongful Death Penalty Convictions: Official Misconduct and Perjury or False Accusation,” Death Penalty Information Center (May 31, 2017). In death penalty cases, perjury/false accusations and official misconduct are the leading causes of wrongful convictions. false accusations or perjury by witnesses who are promised lenient treatment or other incentives in exchange for their testimony.The same factors drive wrongful convictions in non-capital cases and death penalty cases, including:
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