Leo Jones: Leo Jones was convicted for murdering a police officer in 1981 and was executed in 1998. He signed a confession admitting to the crime after several hours of being interrogated by the police. A few years after he was convicted, the police who arrested and interrogated him were fired for being unethical and it turns out that the police had tortured Leo Jones into confessing. 

Larry Griffin: Larry Griffin was convicted in 1981 and executed in 1995. After his execution, there was a year-long investigation that concluded that Larry Griffin was not involved in the drive-by shooting, and instead 3 other suspects were convicted for the crime that he was executed for. It has been confirmed that Lary Griffin was murdered even though he was innocent. 

Sedley Alley: Sedley Alley was convicted for the Rape and Murder of Suzzane Collins and was executed in 2006. During the trial there was a lot of evidence that suggested Alley did not commit the crime for example he was at home under police surveillance during the crime. Sedley's Lawyers then asked for DNA evidence and testing. The Governor at the time,  Phil Bredesen refused to allow DNA testing and was found guilty and was executed. In 2019, new evidence was found that suggested another man committed the crime and Sedley was innocent and it was unfair that DNA testing was denied that would have proven him innocent. 

Source: https://deathpenaltyinfo.org/policy-issues/innocence/executed-but-possibly-innocent

There are some more direct reforms that can be applied to the death penalty within the government systems. These measures include requiring pre-trial screening of all jailhouse informant testimony, automatic new trials in cases where prosecutors knowingly withhold evidence useful to the defense, and pre-trial depositions of certain witnesses. A permanent special committee should be established to study wrongful convictions to understand where the system fails and to help correct institutional errors.

Another reform can be to limit eligibility for the death penalty. When the Illinois legislature voted in 1977 to reinstate the death penalty, it outlined a handful of specific circumstances  called “aggravating factors" that would supposedly make a defendant eligible for the death penalty. Murdering a police officer, firefighter or prison guard, murdering in the course of a hijacking or while committing another felony, murdering 2 or more people, and murdering for hire. These were narrow, black and white straight cut conditions that limited arbitrariness on the part of state’s attorneys who decided when to ask for the death penalty. These can be brought back to our systems to demonstrate set rules and regulations surrounding the penalty. 

Lyrics: “ Don't wanna commit murder, but damn they got me trapped” It's hard to adapt, when you're black and you're trapped in a livin' Hell I shouldn'ta let him catch me Instead of livin' sad in jail I coulda died free and happy”

In these lyrics, Tupac talks about how he feels trapped in this situation where he needs to commit murder to protect himself because he is Black and in a "livin' Hell". He is saying how because of his race he is in a situation where he is much more likely to receive the death sentence and he would rather die free than in jail. This shows the injustice of the death penalty, that mostly black people are the ones who receive it. 

“Well they gave me some beans for my last meal I've got 23 minutes to go But nobody asked me how I feel I've got 22 minutes to go” 

In this song, Johnny Cash goes through the last 25 minutes of his life when he is going to be executed with the death penalty. In the 23rd minute, he is given some beans as his last meal. This shows how he is not treated with respect and instead given "Some Beans" as his last meal. In the 22 minutes, nobody has asked him how he feels which again shows nobody really cares or respects him because he is receiving the death penalty. This song highlights some of how when someone is convicted, they are dehumanized all the way to the last minutes of their life. 

And I've heard their mamas cryin' when they heard that big door slam
And I've seen the victim's family holdin' hands

In these lyrics, Steve Earl talks about people who are receiving the death penalty and how their mothers are crying and their families are holding hands. When someone is executed, they are being taken from their families and all the people who might depend on them or need them in their lives. This ultimately demonstrates that when someone receives the death penalty, not only they are affected, but many other people who knew them as well. 

Sources: 
https://www.theguardian.com/music/musicblog/2013/jul/11/readers-recommend-songs-capital-punishment-results