I came across an interesting website today, The Innocence Project, which according to its website is a “national litigation and public policy organization dedicated to exonerating wrongfully convicted people through DNA testing and reforming the criminal justice system to prevent future injustice.” The organization was founded in 1992 to help prisoners who could be proven innocent through DNA testing.

One of the most startling facts presented on the website is this one:

To date, 194 people in the United States have been exonerated by DNA testing, including 14 who served time on death row. These people served an average of 12 years in prison before exoneration and release.

In other words, 194 people since 1992 have been cleared of all charges and were proven to be innocent through the help of DNA testing. These people were innocent and wrongfully convicted, and had their lives nearly destroyed. If 194 cases have thus far been caught, then how many other innocent people are rotting away in jail having been convicted of a crime they did not commit?

The Innocence Project goes even further than just tossing out a bunch of numbers. Available on their website is a national view of exonerations across the United States. By mousing over each state, you can find out how many people have been cleared. Clicking on the state will provide you access to even more information, including the nitty gritty details of each of the individuals cleared - including their full names, pictures, case info, and more.

It really makes you think about the whole justice system here in the United States, how things aren’t always fair or perfect, and how the system can be abused and manipulated. And for those who believe in the death penalty, I hope that these figures at least give you cause to think about how you feel about that issue again.