The number of exonerations in New York undermines the assumption that we sufficiently protect the innocent. It is of paramount importance to all New Yorkers and all Americans that the entire criminal justice system work together to ensure only the guilty are convicted.

One wrongful conviction is one too many.

But unfortunately, across New York and the rest of the country, there have been numerous exonerations stemming from wrongful convictions.

Just recently we heard about Valentino Dixon, who was exonerated after spending 26 years in prison for a murder in Buffalo that he did not commit. Josiah Galloway was also freed after spending a decade behind bars for a Hempstead shooting carried out by someone else.

These convictions derail the lives of the wrongfully accused and cause tremendous pain for their loved ones. The impact is also felt by the general public, because every time it is proven that an innocent person was sent to prison, public confidence in our justice system is further damaged.

According to the National Registry of Exonerations, New York has had approximately 250 exonerations in its history, second only to Texas. That’s more than 2,500 years of innocent people’s lives lost behind bars. A majority of those exonerations were due to misconduct by police, prosecutors or other government officials.