Based on new evidence that either proved their innocence or cast doubt on their guilt, some 95 inmates have been released from death row since 1973. Republican Gov. George Ryan of Illinois declared a moratorium on executions 16 months ago because of what he called his state's "shameful record of convicting innocent people and putting them on death row."
Death penalty supporters respond that such cases show the system correcting its own errors and stress that nobody has proved the innocence of any of the 717 people executed since 1976. True, but misleading: After an execution, the exhausted defense lawyers and others typically have little remaining incentive to dig up evidence of innocence and when they do, they often face resistance from state officials who are more interested in protecting themselves than in the truth.