Despite only making up 13% of the American population, Black Americans comprise 53% of the 3,466 exonerations listed in the National Registry of Exonerations (NRE). There has been minimal criminological research conducted exploring how race impacts exonerations. Throughout history evidence of differential treatment in prescribing penalties for people convicted of sexual assault depending on race is well documented in statutes, disparities in execution data, and the presence and impact of lynch mobs. This study explores the intersections of race and sexual assault wrongful convictions. Using a content analysis of the 387 sexual assault wrongful conviction cases included in the NRE, a mixed-methods analytical approach considered: (a) victim and offender case demographics, (b) types of contributing factors present, (c) victim-offender relationship, and (d) how race impacts the narratives and outcomes.
