Convicting the Innocent
DNA Exonerations Database

Dale Brison

First NameDale
Last NameBrison
Year of Conviction1992
Year of Exoneration1994
State of ConvictionPennsylvania
Trial, Bench Trial, or Guilty PleaTrial
Type of CrimeRape
Death SentenceNo
Gender of ExonereeMale
Race of exonereeBlack
JuvenileNo
Type of Innocence Defense
  • Alibi
Description / Quotes from Testimony Concerning Defense

● Defendant’s mother testified defendant was at home at time of crime. Other siblings testified he has at home that day.

Did the defendant testify at trial?Yes
Quotes from Exoneree Testimony

When asked if he committed the crime, he answered, “No, I didn’t.”

Types of evidence at trial
  • Eyewitness
  • Forensic Evidence
Type of Forensic Evidence
  • Hair
Types of Flawed Forensics
  • Vague
  • Valid
Identity of eyewitness
  • Cross Racial Identification
  • Victim
Suggestive Procedures

No ● Victim saw defendant on the street without police present – although, police did not follow up with any line-up procedure

Quotes from testimony #1

Victim had “seen him on the streets of Oxford” before, prior to the assault. A few days after the assault, she then saw “the same guy that attacked me” in a group on the street near her apartment.

Unreliable Identification?

No Victim recalled seeing attacker’s face clearly and for 20 minutes.

Highest level reachedAppeal
Claims Raised During All Appeals and Postconviction
  • Brady
  • Jackson Claim
  • Motion for DNA Testing
Harmless Error Rulings
  • G
Citations to judicial opinions

Commonwealth v. Brison, 618 A.2d 420 (PA. Super. 1992

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