Reconsidering racial and ethnic bias in wrongful convictions: trends in disparities in time to exoneration

Abstract Racial and ethnic disparities in wrongful convictions are well-documented, but how these disparities have changed over time remains unclear. This study addresses this gap by examining trends in racial and ethnic disparities in time to exoneration using data from the National Registry of Exonerations in the United States. Our findings indicate that while Black wrongful convicts have historically faced significantly longer exoneration times than their White counterparts, these disparities have diminished over time to a point of reversal for individuals convicted in recent years. Interestingly, no significant differences – past or present – were found between Hispanic and White wrongful convicts. These findings call for a re-evaluation of assumptions regarding racial and ethnic bias in wrongful convictions.