By Frank Green

A new study of data from Virginia's DNA testing project estimates that as many as 15 percent of people found guilty in sexual assault cases between 1973 and 1987 were wrongfully convicted.

According to an Urban Institute report, DNA supports the innocence of 38 people — five convicted in murders and 33 in sexual assaults — indicating that more people are left to be cleared of wrongful convictions.

The Virginia DNA project began in 2005 after sample testing cleared two men of rapes. Testing in hundreds of cases since then has exonerated three more people.

Also, the Virginia Department of Forensic Science released the DNA reports in 29 of the 38 cases cited by the Urban Institute that have been cleared for release by prosecutors.

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Source: GoDanRiver.com