McNair Scholars Research Journal
Abstract
The Innocence Project has exonerated only four women out of their first 250 cases. Even with the increase in media attention, wrongfully convicted women are still underrepresented among exonerees. This study will examine the four cases of exonerated women with the help of the Innocence Project. First, utilizing official documents including court filings and rulings, the study will identify commonalities and differences that led to a case being chosen by the Innocence Project. Characteristics to be considered are: the crime(s) the individuals were convicted of, the length of sentences, whether DNA testing was used to exonerate them, or if another type of error was exposed. Second, to understand the context in which the case was selected, an examination of the representation of the women by the media and in popular literature will be conducted, utilizing discourse analysis. Finally, this research will provide recommendations that suggest improvements to the case selection process.