Haven't they suffered enough? Time to exoneration following wrongful conviction of racially marginalized minority- vs. majority-group members

Abstract

Studies on the criminal justice process up to the point of conviction show that defendants who belong to racially marginalized groups suffer a greater risk of being wrongfully convicted. However, little attention has been paid to the period after conviction. Applying multilevel analysis to data from the National Registry of Exonerations in the United States, we compare the length of the exoneration process for members of racially marginalized minority groups who are shown to have been wrongfully convicted compared with their counterparts from the white majority group. Our results indicate that exonerees from racially marginalized groups serve more time out of their sentence compared to those who are white. Further analysis shows that these differences exist only with respect to exonerees in Republican-controlled states. These findings suggest that not only are racially marginalized minorities wrongfully convicted at higher rates, as found in previous studies, but also that they suffer longer periods of unjustified punishment.

The Perception of Justice Among Wrongfully Convicted Individuals: Life After Exoneration

“…These personal narratives underscore the enduring stigma and the barriers to social reintegration that exonerees face, as noted by Heilbrun et al (2020), who call for targeted therapeutic interventions to address these unique challenges (Heilbrun et al, 2020). Furthermore, our study brings attention to the systemic biases and disparities in the experiences of exonerees, as highlighted by Itskovich, Factor, and Ohana (2023). The prolonged time to exoneration for racially marginalized individuals discussed in their study is reflected in our findings, where participants from minority groups shared stories of compounded injustices, emphasizing the intersectionality of race, justice, and wrongful conviction (Itskovich et al, 2023).…”

“…Furthermore, our study brings attention to the systemic biases and disparities in the experiences of exonerees, as highlighted by Itskovich, Factor, and Ohana (2023). The prolonged time to exoneration for racially marginalized individuals discussed in their study is reflected in our findings, where participants from minority groups shared stories of compounded injustices, emphasizing the intersectionality of race, justice, and wrongful conviction (Itskovich et al, 2023). Karaffa, Page, and Koch's (2015) research on perceptions of exonerees' deservingness to receive financial compensation for wrongful convictions intersects with our findings, where exonerees voiced their frustrations over the inadequacy of current compensation mechanisms and the public's misunderstanding of their needs and rights (Karaffa et al, 2015).…”

“…Their recommendations for therapy underscore the necessity of acknowledging and treating the deep-seated trauma experienced by wrongfully convicted individuals, highlighting the critical role of mental health professionals in facilitating recovery and reintegration (Heilbrun et al, 2020). Itskovich, Factor, and Ohana (2023) investigate the disparities in exoneration times between racially marginalized minority and majority-group members, shedding light on the systemic biases that exacerbate the injustices faced by wrongfully convicted individuals. Their findings point to a troubling aspect of wrongful convictions, where racial and ethnic disparities in the criminal justice system further compound the challenges of achieving justice for all (Itskovich et al, 2023).…”

“…Itskovich, Factor, and Ohana (2023) investigate the disparities in exoneration times between racially marginalized minority and majority-group members, shedding light on the systemic biases that exacerbate the injustices faced by wrongfully convicted individuals. Their findings point to a troubling aspect of wrongful convictions, where racial and ethnic disparities in the criminal justice system further compound the challenges of achieving justice for all (Itskovich et al, 2023). Karaffa, Page, and Koch (2015) delve into the perceptions of exonerees' deservingness to receive financial compensation for wrongful convictions (Karaffa et al, 2015).…”