Wrongful convictions are a growing concern in U.S. criminal justice. This study examines state reforms from 1989 to 2018 addressing five issues: eyewitness changes, mandatory interrogations recording, biological evidence preservation, post-conviction DNA access, and exoneree compensation.

Our findings show that public opinion is influential for policy change, but only when state lawmakers are politically vulnerable. Advocacy groups also play a crucial role in driving these reforms.

These insights offer policymakers a clearer understanding of how to effectively address wrongful conviction while accounting for political realities.