Gary Dotson, one of the first DNA exonerees, celebrates 18 years of freedom

Gary Dotson became one of the first people to be exonerated through DNA testing 18 years ago this week. Dotson served 10 years for aggravated kidnapping and rape. Serological testing, a limited but common type of biological testing that was used before the advent of DNA, played a role in Dotson’s wrongful conviction.  Eyewitness misidentification also contributed to his conviction.  Dotson was exonerated on August 14, 1989.

Unreliable and limited science has been a leading cause of wrongful convictions. Read more about

Dotson’s case

and also about the prevalence of

unreliable and limited science

.

Also celebrating exoneration anniversaries this week:

Tuesday:

Roy Criner

(8/14/2000)

Wednesday:

Eduardo Velasquez

(8/15/2001)