Exonerations Resulting from NIJ Postconviction DNA Testing Funding

The Justice for All Act of 2004 authorized the establishment of the Kirk Bloodsworth Postconviction DNA Testing Grant Program.

This competitive grant program, Postconviction Testing of DNA Evidence, provides funding to states to help defray the costs associated with postconviction DNA testing. States may use funds in cases involving violent felony offenses (as defined by state law) in which actual innocence might be demonstrated. Funds may be used to review the cases and to locate and analyze biological evidence associated with them.
The goals of the program are to:

1. Review appropriate postconviction cases to identify those in which DNA testing could prove the actual innocence of a person convicted of a violent felony offense(s) as defined by state law.
2. Locate biological evidence associated with such postconviction cases.
3. Perform DNA analysis of appropriate biological evidence.

Though exonerations are not the sole measure of program success, the  exonerations listed below have resulted from NIJ's funding and the hard work of the grantees. 

List of Exonerations