Wrongful Conviction
False Allegations and Wrongful Convictions in Sexual Assault Cases: A Research Compilation
This GPS research compilation synthesizes leading studies on false allegations and wrongful convictions in sexual assault cases, revealing wrongful conviction rates estimated at 11.6–15% for rape cases, with sexual assault constituting 26% of all exonerations nationally. The data highlights that one-third of sexual assault allegations in criminal settings are classified as unfounded, that Black defendants face 3.5 times higher likelihood of wrongful conviction for sexual assault, and that real perpetrators of 154 additional violent crimes went free while innocent people were imprisoned. The findings carry significant implications for Georgia's approximately 53,000 state prisoners, particularly given the state's post-conviction review system described by its own Chief Justice as 'broken.'
Where this research is used
This page is a research collection: individual facts drawn from the sources listed further down, each traced to where it came from. A research topic brings many collections together into one overview of an issue. The facts on this page feed these 3 topics; open one to see how they fit with the rest of the evidence.
Racial Disparities
Black Georgians are roughly a third of the state's population and roughly 60 percent of its prisoners, a gap that widens at every deeper point in the system — arrest, conviction, life sentences, solitary confinement, and exoneration. This page assembles the measured disparity across 23 GPS research collections, from the Black Codes and convict leasing to 2025 prison admissions data, and flags where Georgia's own reporting stops short of what the numbers would require.
2,134 data points
Violence & Safety
Georgia's prisons kill people at a rate the U.S. Department of Justice measured as almost triple the national average in 2019 and roughly eight times the national rate by 2024, with 142 homicides reported between 2018 and 2023 alone. A three-year federal civil rights investigation concluded in October 2024 that the State violates the Eighth Amendment by failing to protect incarcerated people from violence and sexual abuse, in a system where correctional officer vacancies near 50 percent have let gangs control housing units and weapons are recovered by the tens of thousands. This page sets out the homicide data, the federal findings, the case-level record of how the violence happens, and the accounting failures that keep the official numbers low.
8,606 data points
Wrongful Conviction
Georgia's exoneration record is short and slow: 60 people exonerated of Georgia convictions since 1989, 704.2 years lost between them, and 42 of the 60 — 70 percent — waited longer than the four years state law allows for a habeas corpus petition. This page sets out what the record shows, how a 2004 filing deadline and four decades of judicial narrowing closed the remaining routes, who the people are, and what Georgia has and has not built to find them: three conviction integrity units across 159 counties, and a compensation fund that pays after innocence is proven but does nothing to help prove it.
1,193 data points
Key Findings
The most impactful data from this research collection. Tap a card for the full finding, GPS commentary on why it matters, and its source.
The finding
Approximately 91% of DNA exonerations (as of 2020) involved sexual assault cases, making sex crimes by far the most common wrongful conviction category identified through DNA testing.
Why it matters · GPS commentary
DNA testing has proven innocence most often in sex-crime cases. Access to testing and post-conviction review therefore matters for people in Georgia prisons serving sex-crime sentences, where the state's own Chief Justice calls that review system broken.
Our reading of the finding above. It is not part of the source.
The finding
Mistaken witness identification was a contributing factor in 67% of wrongful adult sexual assault convictions, according to the National Registry of Exonerations (as of February 2019).
Why it matters · GPS commentary
Two of every three wrongful adult sexual assault convictions involved a witness pointing to the wrong person, so eyewitness evidence is a major source of error. The collection's cross-racial misidentification finding shows whose cases that risk most often affects.
Our reading of the finding above. It is not part of the source.
The finding
A Black prisoner serving time for sexual assault is 3.5 times more likely to be innocent than a white sexual assault convict.
Why it matters · GPS commentary
If the national pattern holds in Georgia, Black Georgians serving sexual assault sentences face a higher chance of being innocent. Because Georgia lacks its own wrongful conviction data, that risk goes unmeasured in the state.
Our reading of the finding above. It is not part of the source.All Data Points
52 verified data points extracted from primary sources.
Wrongful conviction rate for sexual assault convictions (Virginia): 11.6% adjusted, 12.6% observed, authors’ upper bound Statistic
An estimated 11.6 percent of convictions with a sexual assault component were wrongful, based on forensic, case processing and disposition data from post-conviction DNA testing of Virginia cases from the 1970s and 1980s. The source report gives TWO rates and they are not interchangeable. 12.6 percent is the OBSERVED rate: 29 of the 231 sexual-assault-component convictions that produced a determinate post-conviction DNA result yielded exculpatory DNA evidence that would support the convicted person’s exoneration. 11.6 percent is the ADJUSTED rate: the observed rate corrected by inverse probability weighting to estimate the rate across the larger sample (N=430) of both determinate and indeterminate cases.SCOPE: murder and sexual assault felony convictions disposed in Virginia between 1973 and 1987 across 56 circuit courts, restricted to the 714 convictions for which biological evidence from the original case survived and could be DNA tested. The rate was calculated only on convictions with a sexual assault component; homicide-only convictions were excluded because too few of them (n=20) produced a determinate DNA result.AUTHORS’ OWN CHARACTERISATION: the report states these estimates “may be considered an upper bound on the rate of wrongful conviction for these cases, since it is possible that even after Urban researchers’ careful review of courthouse information on cases with exculpatory DNA evidence, there could be some rightful convictions included.” The report states no confidence intervals.DO NOT present 11.6 percent as a general, national or current wrongful conviction rate. It is an upper bound, for one offence category, in one state, for convictions from the 1970s and 1980s, among the subset of cases that still had biological evidence available for testing.EDITION CITED: the 2017 report (Part II) — Walsh, Hussemann, Flynn, Yahner and Golian, “Estimating the Prevalence of Wrongful Conviction,” summary technical report, Urban Institute, NIJ Award No. 2013-IJ-CX-0004, NCJRS document 251115, dated September 2017. This is NOT the earlier 2012 Urban Institute study (Roman et al., “Post-Conviction DNA Testing and Wrongful Conviction,” Part I), which examined the same Virginia convictions but reported a different estimate that the 2017 report revises. The 11.6 percent figure belongs to the 2017 report only.CROSS-REFERENCE: the same finding is recorded as data point 2244 in collection 38, “Innocent People in Georgia Prisons: The Scope and Scale of Wrongful Conviction.” The two entries were reconciled against the primary report on 2026-09-19; amend them together.
11.6% vs. 12.6 percent observed (29 of 231 determinate sexual-assault-component convictions)
Upper estimate of wrongful rape convictions in Virginia Statistic
Up to 15% of men serving time for rape in Virginia had been wrongfully convicted, according to the Urban Institute study using post-conviction DNA testing.
15%
Innocence Project total DNA exonerations Statistic
As of 2025, the Innocence Project has participated in 254 DNA-based exonerations.
254 exonerations
Sex crimes dominate DNA exonerations Statistic
Approximately 91% of DNA exonerations (as of 2020) involved sexual assault cases, making sex crimes by far the most common wrongful conviction category identified through DNA testing.
91%
Additional violent crimes by real perpetrators Statistic
Actual perpetrators identified through DNA evidence went on to commit 154 additional violent crimes while innocent people sat in prison, including 83 sexual assaults, 36 murders, and 35 other violent crimes.
154 additional violent crimes
Additional sexual assaults by real perpetrators Statistic
Real perpetrators identified through DNA evidence committed 83 additional sexual assaults while innocent persons were incarcerated for their original crimes.
83 additional sexual assaults
Additional murders by real perpetrators Statistic
Real perpetrators identified through DNA evidence committed 36 additional murders while innocent persons were incarcerated for their original crimes.
36 additional murders
Male defendants in wrongful convictions Statistic
Almost all (99%) wrongful convictions identified through DNA exonerations involved male defendants.
99%
Minority overrepresentation in DNA exonerations Statistic
Minority groups made up approximately 70% of DNA exonerees (61% African American, 8% Latino).
70%
African American share of DNA exonerees Statistic
African Americans comprised 61% of DNA exonerees despite being a much smaller share of the general population.
61%
Total exonerations in National Registry Statistic
As of 2024, the National Registry of Exonerations has documented 3,784 exonerations representing more than 35,264 years lost to wrongful imprisonment since 1989.
3,784 exonerations
Total years lost to wrongful imprisonment Statistic
More than 35,264 years have been lost to wrongful imprisonment across 3,784 exonerations documented by the National Registry of Exonerations since 1989.
35,264 years
Sexual assault share of all exonerations Statistic
26% of all exonerations are for sexual assault (including 11% for child sex abuse and 15% for adult sexual assault). Sexual assault is the second most common crime type in exonerations, after homicide.
26%
Adult sexual assault exonerations total Statistic
Over 300 persons have been exonerated of adult sexual assault convictions as of end of 2018, per the National Registry of Exonerations.
300 exonerations (adult sexual assault)
Child sex abuse exonerations total Statistic
Over 250 persons have been exonerated of child sex abuse convictions as of end of 2018, per the National Registry of Exonerations.
250 exonerations (child sex abuse)
Mistaken witness identification in adult sexual assault wrongful convictions Statistic
Mistaken witness identification was a contributing factor in 67% of wrongful adult sexual assault convictions, according to the National Registry of Exonerations (as of February 2019).
67%
Perjury/false accusations in adult sexual assault wrongful convictions Statistic
Perjury or false accusations were a contributing factor in 42% of wrongful adult sexual assault convictions, according to the National Registry of Exonerations (as of February 2019).
42%
Official misconduct in adult sexual assault wrongful convictions Statistic
Official misconduct was a contributing factor in 38% of wrongful adult sexual assault convictions, according to the National Registry of Exonerations (as of February 2019).
38%
Perjury/false accusations in child sex abuse wrongful convictions Statistic
Perjury or false accusations were a contributing factor in 84% of wrongful child sex abuse convictions, according to the National Registry of Exonerations (as of February 2019).
84%
Official misconduct in child sex abuse wrongful convictions Statistic
Official misconduct was a contributing factor in 44% of wrongful child sex abuse convictions, according to the National Registry of Exonerations (as of February 2019).
44%
False allegations most common factor in all wrongful convictions Statistic
False allegations and perjury are the most common contributing factor to wrongful convictions overall, constituting 59% of such cases across all crime types.
59%
Racial disparity in wrongful sexual assault convictions Statistic
A Black prisoner serving time for sexual assault is 3.5 times more likely to be innocent than a white sexual assault convict.
3.5x times more likely
Cross-racial sexual assault cases dominate eyewitness misidentification exonerations Finding
Sexual assaults by Black men against white women are a small minority of all sexual assaults, but they comprise half of sexual assault exonerations involving eyewitness misidentification.
One-third of sexual assault allegations are unfounded Statistic
A comprehensive analysis by the Center for Prosecutor Integrity found that approximately one-third of sexual assault allegations in the criminal justice setting are unfounded.
33%
FBI/Innocence Project DNA testing: 20% exclusion rate Statistic
Of roughly 10,000 sexual assault cases since 1989 where DNA testing was conducted, approximately 2,000 (20%) excluded the suspect entirely, approximately 6,000 (60%) matched the suspect, and approximately 2,000 (20%) were inconclusive.
20%
Military sexual assault unfounded rate Statistic
Of 2,854 reported sexual assault cases in the military, 28% were deemed 'unfounded' or lacking 'sufficient evidence of any offense to prosecute,' per DOD SAPRO 2018 data.
28%
Source
- Department of Defense SAPRO Annual Report (2018)
Kanin study: 41% false allegation rate Statistic
In the Kanin study of a midwestern city, of 109 rape allegations examined, police concluded 41% were false. Cases were classified as false only when the complainant admitted the allegation was false.
41%
Source
- Kanin, E.J. (1994). False rape allegations. Archives of Sexual Behavior
Southeastern state study: 25% unfounded rate Statistic
In a 2016 study of 351 sexual assault allegations in a southeastern state, 25% were deemed unfounded, 54% classified as uncertain, and only 21% cleared by arrest.
25%
Denver Police Department: 45% false report estimate Statistic
The Denver Police Department's internal assessment described rape as 'one of the most falsely reported crimes' and estimated false rape reports at approximately 45%.
45%
Lisak study: 5.9% false allegation rate Statistic
In the Lisak study examining all 136 cases of sexual assault reported to a major Northeastern university over a 10-year period, 8 were classified as false allegations, representing 5.9%.
5.9%
Lisak study conclusion on false allegation prevalence range Finding
The Lisak study authors concluded that 'the prevalence of false allegations is between 2% and 10%' when their results are taken in context with previous research.
British police study: 8% classified as false, 2% by strict criteria Statistic
In an analysis of 2,643 sexual assault cases reported to British police, 8% were initially classified as false reports. When researchers applied official Home Office criteria requiring 'a clear and credible admission by the complainant' or 'strong evidential grounds,' this figure dropped to 2%.
8% vs. 2 percent under strict Home Office criteria
LAPD false report rate: 4.5% Statistic
In a study of sexual assault cases reported to the LAPD in 2008, the rate of false reports was found to be 4.5%.
4.5%
Debunked 2% false allegation myth origin Finding
The commonly cited claim that only 2% of sexual assault allegations are false originates from Susan Brownmiller's 1975 book 'Against Our Will.' This figure was based on casual judicial commentary by a New York judge rather than rigorous research. Despite lacking evidentiary support, it has been widely repeated in advocacy and media for decades.
Source
- GPS Research Library: False Allegations and Wrongful Convictions Compilation (March 2026)
Unfounded does not necessarily mean fabricated Methodology note
'Unfounded' does not necessarily mean 'fabricated.' It includes cases where evidence is insufficient to proceed, the complainant recants, or the reported conduct does not meet the legal definition of the crime. However, the high unfounded rates across jurisdictions suggest the problem of false or unsupported allegations is significantly larger than the commonly cited 2-10% range.
Virginia study methodology Methodology note
Researchers obtained post-conviction DNA test results from the Virginia Division of Forensic Science for sexual assault cases. They compared DNA results against original trial evidence and conviction records. Cases where DNA excluded the convicted defendant were classified as wrongful convictions.
National implications of Virginia wrongful conviction rate Finding
If the 11.6% wrongful conviction rate found in the Virginia study is applied nationally, it would suggest that tens of thousands of people currently incarcerated for sexual offenses may be innocent.
Source
- GPS Research Library: False Allegations and Wrongful Convictions Compilation (March 2026)
Lisak study limitation: university-only sample Methodology note
The Lisak study examined only university-reported cases, which may not be representative of criminal justice system cases. The sample size (136) was relatively small.
Expansion of sex offender registries as wrongful conviction risk Finding
The continuous broadening of sex offender registration requirements creates more opportunities for wrongful inclusion and collateral consequences for the falsely accused.
Victim-centered approaches may compromise due process Finding
The expansion of 'victim-centered' investigation methodologies that prioritize complainant narratives over evidence-based investigation may reduce safeguards against false accusations. While intended to improve reporting rates, these approaches can compromise due process protections for the accused.
Uniquely severe consequences of wrongful sex crime convictions Finding
Wrongful conviction for a sex crime carries uniquely severe consequences beyond imprisonment: sex offender registration (often for life), residency restrictions, employment barriers, social stigma that persists even after exoneration, community notification requirements, civil commitment proceedings, and loss of parental rights.
Source
- GPS Research Library: False Allegations and Wrongful Convictions Compilation (March 2026)
Georgia prison population Statistic
Georgia incarcerates approximately 47,000 people in state prisons.
47,000 people
Source
- GPS Research Library: False Allegations and Wrongful Convictions Compilation (March 2026)
Georgia Chief Justice calls post-conviction review system 'broken' Quote
Georgia's post-conviction review system has been criticized by the state's own Chief Justice, Nels Peterson, who in March 2026 called it 'a mess' and 'broken,' noting it leads to 'lengthy case delays and wasted resources' that can 'unfairly extend a defendant's imprisonment.'
Source
- GPS Research Library: False Allegations and Wrongful Convictions Compilation (March 2026)
Georgia-specific wrongful conviction data gap Data gap
State-specific wrongful conviction rates for sex crimes have not been studied in Georgia, creating a data gap in understanding the scope of the problem among Georgia's approximately 47,000 state prisoners.
Source
- GPS Research Library: False Allegations and Wrongful Convictions Compilation (March 2026)
Georgia Innocence Project operates with limited resources Finding
The Georgia Innocence Project (based at Georgia State University) works on wrongful conviction cases in the state but operates with limited resources.
Source
- GPS Research Library: False Allegations and Wrongful Convictions Compilation (March 2026)
Racial disparity implication for Black Georgians Finding
Black Georgians convicted of sexual assault face a statistically higher risk of wrongful conviction based on the national racial disparity data showing Black prisoners are 3.5 times more likely to be innocent than white sexual assault convicts.
Sources
- National Registry of Exonerations: Basic Patterns
- GPS Research Library: False Allegations and Wrongful Convictions Compilation (March 2026)
Heightened public perception drives less rigorous evidence standards in cross-racial cases Finding
The racial disparity in wrongful sexual assault convictions reflects 'heightened' public perception of moral violation in cross-racial cases, leading to less rigorous evidence standards.
FBI/DNA testing: 60% matched suspect Statistic
Of roughly 10,000 sexual assault cases since 1989 where DNA testing was conducted, approximately 6,000 (60%) matched the suspect.
60%
FBI/DNA testing: 20% inconclusive Statistic
Of roughly 10,000 sexual assault cases since 1989 where DNA testing was conducted, approximately 2,000 (20%) were inconclusive.
20%
Southeastern state: 54% uncertain classification Statistic
In a 2016 study of 351 sexual assault allegations in a southeastern state, 54% were classified as 'uncertain.'
54%
Southeastern state: only 21% cleared by arrest Statistic
In a 2016 study of 351 sexual assault allegations in a southeastern state, only 21% were cleared by arrest.
21%
20-40% unfounded range depending on inconclusive classification Finding
The FBI/DNA exclusion data translates to 20-40% unfounded cases depending on how inconclusive results are classified.
Sources
11 cited sources backing this research.
Secondary
Official report
Secondary
Official report
Primary
Official report
Department of Defense SAPRO Annual Report (2018)
Primary
Official report
Tertiary
Gps original
GPS Research Library: False Allegations and Wrongful Convictions Compilation (March 2026)
Primary
Data portal
Primary
Official report
Primary
Academic
Kanin, E.J. (1994). False rape allegations. Archives of Sexual Behavior
Primary
Academic
Primary
Official report
Primary
Data portal
Key Entities
Organizations, people, facilities, and other named entities referenced in this research.
Center for Prosecutor Integrity
[organization]
David Lisak
[person]
Denver Police Department
[organization]
DOD SAPRO
[organization]
Federal Bureau of Investigation
[organization]
Georgia Department of Corrections
[organization]
Georgia Innocence Project
[organization]
Georgia Prisoners' Speak
[organization]
Georgia State University
[organization]
Innocence Project
[organization]
Los Angeles Police Department
[organization]
National Institute of Justice
[organization]
National Registry of Exonerations
[organization]
Nels Peterson
[person]
Susan Brownmiller
[person]
University of Massachusetts Boston
[organization]
University of Michigan Law School
[organization]
Urban Institute
[organization]
Virginia Division of Forensic Science
[organization]