20 Innocent People Who Spent Decades in Prison for Crimes They Didn’t Commit

Every year, innocent people are locked away for crimes they didn’t commit—often based on faulty evidence, coerced confessions, or systemic bias. Some spend decades behind bars, losing their families, futures, and freedom, all while fighting for the truth to be heard. This list tells the stories of 20 such people—men and women who endured the unthinkable and finally walked free. Their cases are more than just legal failures—they’re personal tragedies and reminders of a system that must change.

1. Anthony Ray Hinton: 30 Years on Death Row for a Crime He Didn’t See

Anthony Ray Hinton spent nearly three decades on Alabama’s death row for two 1985 murders he didn’t commit. Despite having solid alibis and evidence showing the bullets didn’t match his gun, poor legal defense and systemic racism sealed his fate. His conviction relied entirely on flawed ballistics analysis presented by an underqualified expert.

In 2015, the U.S. Supreme Court unanimously overturned his conviction. Hinton walked free after 30 years, having lost everything—his youth, his mother, and countless opportunities. Today, he speaks out against wrongful convictions and advocates for justice reform. His story is a powerful reminder of how easily the innocent can be buried alive by a flawed system.

2. Richard Phillips: A 46-Year Nightmare in Michigan

Richard Phillips holds the tragic distinction of spending the longest known time behind bars for a crime he didn’t commit—46 years. In 1972, he was convicted of murder based on false testimony. No physical evidence ever linked him to the crime, but he was sentenced to life without parole.

His exoneration came in 2018 after a witness finally admitted he had lied. Phillips was 72 years old when he was freed, having spent most of his life behind bars. To cope with his trauma, he turned to painting and even sold his art to support himself. Phillips’ case underscores the devastating effects of wrongful convictions and the urgent need for independent conviction review units.

3. Henry McCollum and Leon Brown: Brothers Betrayed by the System

In 1983, teenage brothers Henry McCollum and Leon Brown were coerced into confessing to the rape and murder of an 11-year-old girl in North Carolina. Both had intellectual disabilities, making them especially vulnerable to manipulation during intense police interrogations. Their confessions were riddled with inaccuracies and inconsistencies.

They spent more than 30 years in prison—McCollum on death row and Brown in solitary confinement. In 2014, DNA evidence pointed to another man already serving time for a similar crime. Their release marked a heartbreaking victory. Today, they fight for criminal justice reform while rebuilding the lives that were unjustly stolen from them.

4. Joyce Ann Brown: Framed by a Lookalike

Joyce Ann Brown was living an ordinary life when she was suddenly arrested for a 1980 robbery and murder in Dallas. The crime had been committed by a woman using her name—and who happened to look strikingly similar. Despite a lack of physical evidence, Brown was convicted solely on flawed eyewitness testimony and mistaken identity.

She spent nine years in prison before evidence finally proved her innocence. After her release, Brown became a tireless advocate for women in prison and those wrongfully convicted. Her case is a chilling example of how a mistaken identity and hasty prosecution can destroy an innocent life in a matter of moments.