https://www.bbc.com/news/newsbeat-48609693

The Central Park Five case refers to a high-profile instance of wrongful conviction that occurred in New York City in 1989.

Incident and Arrests
On April 19, 1989, a white female jogger was brutally assaulted in Central Park. In the immediate aftermath, five teenagers—Antron McCray, Kevin Richardson, Yusef Salaam, Raymond Santana, and Korey Wise—were arrested. The young men, mostly African-American and Hispanic, were subjected to intense police interrogations that led to coerced confessions despite inconsistencies and a lack of corroborating evidence.

Legal Proceedings and Convictions
The case quickly garnered intense media attention, and the public outcry helped fuel a swift legal process. The prosecution relied heavily on the confessions obtained during the interrogations, leading to the conviction of the five teenagers in a highly charged trial. However, the evidence against them was later called into serious question.

Reversal and Exoneration
In 2002, a significant breakthrough came when Matias Reyes, a convicted serial rapist, confessed to the crime. DNA evidence confirmed Reyes’s involvement, and as a result, the convictions of the Central Park Five were vacated. This exoneration highlighted not only the miscarriages of justice that had taken place but also the role of systemic issues—such as racial bias and prosecutorial misconduct—in their wrongful convictions.

Impact and Legacy
The case has since become a symbol of the failures of the criminal justice system. It has spurred widespread discussion about the use of coerced confessions, the influence of media sensationalism, and the need for reform in investigative and prosecutorial practices. The story has been extensively covered in documentaries and dramatized in the acclaimed Netflix miniseries “When They See Us,” which brought renewed public attention to the lasting impact on the lives of the five young men.

This case remains a potent reminder of the importance of safeguarding the rights of suspects and ensuring accountability within the legal process.