The Innocent

People who have spent time in prison for crimes they did not commit know firsthand that serious mistakes happen in our criminal justice system. As long as we have a death penalty, we will run the risk of executing an innocent person. Here are their stories:

• Maurice Caldwell In December 2011, Maurice Caldwell was released after 21 years in prison for a murder he did not commit.
• Obie Anthony At 19, Mr. Anthony faced the death penalty for a crime that he did not commit. Read more about his exoneration and release, and why he supports SAFE CA.
• Franky Carrillo Mr. Carrillo was sentenced to prison at the age of 16 for a murder he did not commit and was found innocent after spending 20 years behind bars.
• Cameron Todd Willingham Mr. Willingham was executed in Texas for a fire that killed his three children, even though experts now agree the fire was an accident and he was innocent.
• Gloria Killian Ms. Killian spent 18 years in prison for a murder she did not commit and narrowly escaped execution.
• Ronnie Sandoval Ronnie's son, Arthur Carmona, was wrongfully convicted and sent time in prison for a crime he did not commit. Soon after his release from prison, he was murdered.