What is the most famous case of wrongful conviction?

Asked by: Kraig Heathcote  |  Last update: February 19, 2026
Score: 4.7/5 (29 votes)

There isn't one single "most famous" case, but the Central Park Five (now the Exonerated Five) stands out due to its racial undertones, coerced confessions, and media attention, while cases like Ronald Cotton, overturned by DNA, highlight systemic flaws, and individuals like Anthony Ray Hinton, who spent 30 years on death row, represent profound injustices, all exposing critical issues in the criminal justice system.

What is the most famous wrongful conviction case?

1. The Central Park Five (1989) In 1989, the Central Park Five case shocked New York City, involving five teenagers wrongfully convicted of assault and rape. Forced confessions and evident racial bias marred their trial, leading to a grave miscarriage of justice.

What is the most common wrongful conviction?

While a systemic issue often cannot be traced back to a singular cause, in this case, the most common factor leading to wrongful convictions is faulty eyewitness testimony. An overwhelming majority, as high as 75%, of known wrongful convictions involve mistaken eyewitness identifications6.

What is the largest wrongful conviction settlement?

When the judge read the verdict, the courtroom was stunned. McCollum and Brown were awarded the largest wrongful conviction verdict in U.S. history: $75 million total. But for the brothers, it wasn't about the money. It was about the joy they felt because the jury heard their stories and believed them.

What is the most famous crime case in history?

While by no means a comprehensive list, here are some of the most famous:

  • Bonnie & Clyde. ...
  • Rosenberg Espionage Case. ...
  • Assassination of JFK. ...
  • Murder of Medgar Evers. ...
  • D.B. ...
  • Patty Hearst Kidnapping. ...
  • The Unabomber. ...
  • Oklahoma City Bombings. On the morning of April 19, 1995, a truck exploded outside the Alfred P.

The Most Shocking Cases Of Wrongful Convictions | The New Detectives

23 related questions found

What state is #1 in crime?

Alaska often ranks #1 for violent crime rates per capita, followed closely by New Mexico, while Louisiana frequently tops lists for overall danger or homicide rates, though figures vary slightly by source and specific metrics (violent vs. property crime) for 2024/2025 data. 

What is the biggest killer of humans in history?

The deadliest killer of humans in history is often cited as Malaria, with estimates suggesting it has killed billions over millennia, while diseases like Tuberculosis and pandemics such as the Black Death and 1918 Spanish Flu also rank as catastrophic, claiming hundreds of millions of lives each through acute outbreaks, with the Black Death wiping out a massive chunk of Europe's population. 

What is the longest wrongful conviction?

The longest wrongful imprisonment in U.S. history belongs to Glynn Simmons, who was exonerated after serving 48 years for a 1974 Oklahoma murder he did not commit, making him the longest-serving wrongfully convicted inmate to be freed in the country, released in 2023. Another notable case is Richard Phillips, who spent 45 years imprisoned before his release in 2018, though Simmons's case surpasses his record for wrongful conviction in the U.S.
 

How much of a 30K settlement will I get?

From a $30,000 settlement, you'll likely receive significantly less, with amounts depending on attorney fees (often 33-40%), outstanding medical bills (paid from the settlement), case expenses, and potentially taxes, with a realistic take-home amount often falling into the thousands or tens of thousands after these deductions are covered, requiring a breakdown by your attorney. 

What proof is needed to convict?

To secure a criminal conviction, the prosecutor must prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the accused is guilty of criminal charges. In a criminal case, direct evidence is a powerful way for a defendant to be proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

Which US state has the most wrongful convictions?

California Leads Nation in Exonerations of Wrongfully Convicted

  • California leads the nation in exonerations as defined by the National Registry of Exonerations with 120, surpassing Illinois (110), Texas (100), and New York (100). ...
  • Since 1989, courts have exonerated or dismissed convictions against 214 Californians.

What is the #1 reason innocent people are wrongfully convicted?

Eyewitness misidentification is one of the most common factors in cases of wrongful conviction. Nationally, 28% of all exonerations involve mistaken eyewitness identification. Social science research demonstrates that human memory is highly imperfect and fragile.

What is the biggest case in US history?

Introduction. Myra Clark Gaines' 19th century fight over an enormous inheritance is still the longest-running civil lawsuit in American history, taking over 60 years to finally find some kind of resolution. The United States Supreme Court called her case "the most remarkable in the records."

Who is the most famous convict?

There's no single "most famous" convict, as fame varies by era and notoriety, but top contenders include John Dillinger (Great Depression bank robber), Al Capone (infamous gangster), Charles Manson (cult leader), Jack the Ripper (unidentified serial killer), Ned Kelly (Australian bushranger), and Robert Stroud (Birdman of Alcatraz) (famous inmate). Each achieved fame through unique crimes, prison stories, or cultural impact. 

How much do you get for being wrongly convicted?

Money for wrongful imprisonment varies significantly by state, with some offering federal minimums of $50,000 per year plus death row pay, while others provide more generous annual rates (e.g., Texas's $80,000/year) plus additional benefits like tuition, healthcare, and support services, but some states offer very little or none, and compensation can also come from civil lawsuits, leading to large verdicts like $12 million in NY for one exoneree. 

What is the largest lawsuit ever won?

1998 – The Tobacco Master Settlement Agreement – $206 Billion. The Tobacco Master Settlement Agreement was entered in November 1998 and is still the largest lawsuit settlement in history.

What is the most severely punished criminal charge?

Murder, First Degree

The most severe criminal charge that anybody may face is first-degree murder. Although all murder charges are serious, first-degree murder carries the worst punishments. This is because it entails premeditation, which means the defendant is accused of pre-planning their victim's death.

What is the biggest fine ever paid?

Binance Violates the Banking Secrecy Act — $4.3 Billion

The monitor will examine Binance's accounts and transactions, certifying that the company complies with U.S. federal regulations. The Binance fine is the largest penalty in the history of the U.S. Treasury Department.

What was Obama's death penalty?

On 17 January 2017, three days before leaving office after eight years in the White House, President Barack Obama commuted one military death sentence and one federal death sentence. The prisoner in each case will now serve life imprisonment without the possibility of parole.

Who is the longest serving prisoner alive today?

While it's hard to name one definitive person globally due to varying records, Francis Clifford Smith (released in 2020) was considered the longest-serving U.S. prisoner, but the title of longest-serving currently incarcerated person likely belongs to someone like Walter H. Bourque Jr., serving since 1955, or other inmates whose exact status needs confirmation, as Francis Smith was paroled in 2020, though records focus on the U.S. and historical cases. 

What is the most famous trial of all time?

While subjective, the Nuremberg Trials (1945-1949) are arguably the most famous and historically significant trials, establishing precedents for international law by prosecuting Nazi leaders for war crimes and crimes against humanity, alongside highly publicized events like the O.J. Simpson Trial (1995) for celebrity impact, and ancient cases like the Trial of Socrates or Salem Witch Trials for cultural resonance.
 

What war had 0 deaths?

A "war with no casualties" typically refers to "bloodless wars" or "paper wars," like the famous Three Hundred and Thirty-Five Years' War (Netherlands vs. Isles of Scilly), which lasted centuries without a shot fired, or conflicts like the Kettle War and Anglo-Swedish War where formal declarations occurred, but actual fighting or deaths didn't happen, often ending with treaties and trade continuing. These conflicts are characterized by political disputes, threats, or minor incidents that never escalated into actual combat or fatal engagements, highlighting disputes resolved through diplomacy or sheer neglect.
 

Which disease has no cure?

There isn't one single disease without a cure; many chronic, degenerative, and genetic conditions currently lack a cure, including Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, Huntington's, Multiple Sclerosis, HIV/AIDS, Cystic Fibrosis, Lupus, most cancers, Type 1 Diabetes, and Crohn's disease, with treatments focused on managing symptoms and slowing progression rather than eradication, though research offers hope for future treatments.
 

What is the deadliest day in human history?

The deadliest single day in human history is widely considered to be January 23, 1556, when the Shaanxi earthquake struck central China, killing an estimated 830,000 people due to collapsing cave dwellings, landslides, and subsequent famine, wiping out a significant portion of the population in the affected region. While other catastrophic events, like wars or plagues, caused more deaths over longer periods, this earthquake stands out for its immense death toll in a 24-hour span.