True Crime

By Harriet Barovick, Wendy Cole, Tam Gray, Lina Lofaro, David Spitz, Flora Tartakovsky and Chris Taylor

DEAD MEN SPRINTING Illinois' death row has been a busy place lately. But not for the executioner. Last month two men were acquitted of all charges and released. The Land of Lincoln has now freed 11 wrongfully condemned prisoners in the past 21 years--the same number it has put to death. Incidents of wrongful condemnation are also on the rise in other states. The leaders:

STATE FREED EXECUTED

FLORIDA 18 43 ILLINOIS 11 11 TEXAS 7 171 GEORGIA 6 23 ARIZONA 4 15 OKLAHOMA 4 15 NEW MEXICO 4 0 LOUISIANA 3 25 CALIFORNIA 3 6 OHIO 2 1