New Hampshire state law gives convicted prisoners three years to request a new trial. After that, they lose the right. With a narrow exception for DNA forensics, that’s true even if new evidence contradicting their guilt emerges.

If someone else confesses to the crime after three years, they can’t request a new trial. If previously undiscovered evidence of an alibi is uncovered after three years, they can’t request a new trial. If a video of someone else committing the crime is discovered after three years, they can’t request a new trial. In any of those circumstances, the wrongfully convicted prisoner’s only recourse is a pardon from the governor or the prosecutor vacating their own previous work.

Originally published on newhampshirebulletin.com, part of the BLOX Digital Content Exchange.

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