New York City

From Injustice to Influence: The Enduring Legacy of the Exonerated Five

From Injustice to Influence: The Enduring Legacy of the Exonerated Five

What began as one of New York’s most infamous cases of wrongful conviction now stands as a testament to survival, solidarity, and systemic change.

12.18.25 by Bella Bromberg

In this Aug. 11, 1990 file photo, Yusef Salaam enters State Supreme Court in Manhattan with his mother, Sharonne Salaam, on the third day of deliberations in the Central Park jogger trial. (Image: Phillip Schoultz/AP Photo)

What began as one of New York’s most infamous cases of wrongful conviction now stands as a testament to survival, solidarity, and systemic change.

12.18.25 by Bella Bromberg

New York City to Pay $26 Million to Men Wrongly Convicted of Assassinating Malcolm X

New York City to Pay $26 Million to Men Wrongly Convicted of Assassinating Malcolm X

11.01.22 by Innocence Staff

Muhammad Aziz in a Manhattan courtroom on Nov. 18, 2021 with his Innocence Project attorney Vanessa Potkin (Image by Jeenah Moon for Innocence Project).

11.01.22 by Innocence Staff

Exonerated Five Extends Support to Steven Lopez, Sixth Person Exonerated in Jogger Case

Exonerated Five Extends Support to Steven Lopez, Sixth Person Exonerated in Jogger Case

On behalf of members of the Exonerated 5 and the Innocence Project, we extend our deepest support to Steven Lopez.

07.26.22 by Innocence Staff

Steven Lopez arrives in court for a hearing, Monday, July 25, 2022, in New York. Lopez, a co-defendant of the so-called Central Park Five, whose convictions in a notorious 1989 rape of a jogger were thrown out more than a decade later, had his conviction on a related charge overturned Monday. (Steven Hirsch/New York Post via AP, Pool)

On behalf of members of the Exonerated 5 and the Innocence Project, we extend our deepest support to Steven Lopez.

07.26.22 by Innocence Staff

Historic and Long Overdue Exonerations of Muhammad A. Aziz and Khalil Islam for the 1965 Assassination of Malcolm X

Historic and Long Overdue Exonerations of Muhammad A. Aziz and Khalil Islam for the 1965 Assassination of Malcolm X

Justice for two innocent men who were wrongly convicted 55 years ago and spent a combined 42 years in prison.

11.18.21 by Innocence Staff

Muhammad Aziz in a Manhattan courtroom on Nov. 18, 2021, with his Innocence Project attorney Vanessa Potkin (Image: Jeenah Moon for the Innocence Project).

Justice for two innocent men who were wrongly convicted 55 years ago and spent a combined 42 years in prison.

11.18.21 by Innocence Staff

Christina Swarns to Become the New Executive Director of the Innocence Project

Christina Swarns to Become the New Executive Director of the Innocence Project

Swarns will leverage her national reputation as a criminal justice reform expert to advance the organizationu's mission.

04.27.20 by Innocence Staff

Christina Swarns to lead Innocence Project in September 2020. Photo courtesy of Christina Swarns.

Swarns will leverage her national reputation as a criminal justice reform expert to advance the organizationu's mission.

04.27.20 by Innocence Staff

Run the 2020 TCS NYC Marathon with the Innocence Project

Run the 2020 TCS NYC Marathon with the Innocence Project

02.24.20 by Innocence Staff

Huwe Burton and Susan Friedman running Prospect Park, Brooklyn in October 2019. (Image: Sameer Abdel-Khalek/Innocence Project)

02.24.20 by Innocence Staff

They Waited 35 Years for This Day — The Best Moments From Rafael Ruiz’s Exoneration

They Waited 35 Years for This Day — The Best Moments From Rafael Ruiz’s Exoneration

01.31.20 by Innocence Staff

Rafael Ruiz and his Innocence Project legal team after his exoneration on Jan. 28, 2020. [Sameer Abdel-Khalek/Innocence Project]

01.31.20 by Innocence Staff

Innocence Project Client Rafael Ruiz Exonerated of Charges in 1985 East Harlem Sexual Assault Case

Innocence Project Client Rafael Ruiz Exonerated of Charges in 1985 East Harlem Sexual Assault Case

01.28.20 by Innocence Staff

Rafael Ruiz and his family outside the New York County Court after his exoneration on Jan. 28, 2020. [Daniele Selby/Innocence Project]

01.28.20 by Innocence Staff

Exoneree Archie Williams to Perform at Amateur Night at the Apollo on October 30

Exoneree Archie Williams to Perform at Amateur Night at the Apollo on October 30

10.28.19 by Innocence Staff

Archie Williams at the Apollo Theater in September 2019. Photo by Vanessa Potkin/Innocence Project.

10.28.19 by Innocence Staff

Jharrel Jerome wins Emmy for role as Korey Wise in "When They See Us"

Jharrel Jerome wins Emmy for role as Korey Wise in "When They See Us"

09.20.19 by Innocence Staff

Antron McCray, Raymond Santana, Kevin Richardson, Ava DuVernay, Korey Wise and Yusef Salaam at the 71st Primetime Emmy Awards on Sunday, Sept. 22, 2019 (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP).

09.20.19 by Innocence Staff

Exoneree Johnny Hincapie Shares a Special Mother's Day Tribute

Exoneree Johnny Hincapie Shares a Special Mother's Day Tribute

05.11.19 by Johnny Hincapie

My mom and me at Riker’s Island a few months after I was arrested. I was 18 years old.

05.11.19 by Johnny Hincapie

#MassBailOut Aims to Empty Two NYC Jail Facilities

#MassBailOut Aims to Empty Two NYC Jail Facilities

10.01.18 by Innocence Staff

#MassBailOut Aims to Empty Two NYC Jail Facilities

10.01.18 by Innocence Staff

We've helped free more than 250 innocent people from prison. Support our work to strengthen and advance the innocence movement.

Give MonthlyDonate Once