Introduction Studies suggest that the American death penalty is in a crisis. This is because of the emerging evidence, which indicates that convicts may be innocent from the charges. According to Dieter, the courts have exonerated “116 people from the death row after dropping their charges” (Dieter, 2004). This number includes “16 people in the past 20 months” (Dieter, 2004). This shows the rate of successful appeals against the death penalty. At the same time, such successful appeals have raised concerns about the criminal justice system in the US regarding capital punishment. Death row sentences have also declined in the last five years by more than 50 percent. Consequently, the numbers of death row inmates have also declined considerably. In addition, executions have also reduced. Further, the public support for the death penalty has also declined as studies have suggested (Dieter, 2004). It is the innocence of some of the convicts in the death row that has created a crisis in the system. The public questions the system that should guarantee fairness. Consequently, the death penalty has met oppositions from some unlikely quarters like the judges, conservative groups, the law enforcement agency, and from some lawmakers. However, we have to note that this crisis also has its roots in the constitutions of various States. Consequently, opponents of the death penalty have realised the need to address issues, which result from the capital punishment. Trends indicate that the death penalty is on the decline in the US. Meanwhile, the criminal justice system has challenges from new evidence originating forensic investigations. The system should have reliable ways for the death penalty cases based on the mistakes of past convictions. The case of Ryan Mathews is an example of a successful death penalty appeal. The case The police arrested Ryan Mathews for “the murder of a local convenience store owner” (Dieter, 2004). This was a case in Louisiana. The court convicted the suspect in 1999 and later dismissed his charges in 2004. The police interviewed three people who failed to identify the suspect clearly. They referred to the suspect as “short and not taller than 5’8’’ person” (Dieter, 2004). However, Mathews was at least six feet tall. The suspect’s lawyer had not adequately prepared for the case. Consequently, he could not handle the DNA procedures and evidence as expected. The case was difficult because the jury could not reach a verdict after many hours of deliberation and had to do it again. However, when the verdict was out, the suspect got a guilty verdict and ended in the death row list two days later. However, in March 2003, the suspect’s attorney brought a new physical evidence for appeal. The DNA test from the ski mask did not include the suspect. The evidence brought a new suspect to the case. In April 2004, the attorney requested for a new trial based on “the DNA evidence and argument that the prosecution suppressed evidence” (Dieter, 2004). The judge overturned the conviction. In August 9, 2004, the court officially dropped all charges against Mathews. This is how the DNA test saved Mathews from the death penalty. The appeal process against the death sentence This appeal process is specific to the case of Ryan Math