Blacks are far more likely to be wrongfully convicted than whites according to a study from the National Registry of Exonerations that was released Tuesday. Over a two-decade period, the study examined the conviction and exonerations of over 1,900 defendants with nearly half of the group identified as Black.
In the study, it was noted that while Blacks are only 13 percent of the population, 47 percent of that group were later exonerated. Further, an additional 1,800 of that group that was innocent were framed for major crimes but later cleared in what the study called “group exonerations.” Murder, sexual assault, and drug crimes garnered the most exonerations although other crimes were viewed under the study.
The study doesn’t name a reason for the racial disparity in convictions and admits that its 28-year-long study is a brief sample of what might be even more extreme numbers. The study also highlights in its conclusion four major cases that led to a high number of group exonerations in high-profile police scandals.
The study can be viewed in full here.
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