Exonerees, innocence groups urge CalVCB to remain neutral after staff role cited in proposed SB 490

Exonerees, innocence advocates and a retired prosecutor told the California Victim Compensation Board on Wednesday that the board’s perceived involvement in drafting Senate Bill 490 undercuts its ability to act as a neutral adjudicator in compensation claims for the wrongfully convicted.

At public comment, Joseph Trujillo, executive director of Loyola Law School’s Project for the Innocent, said SB 490 would “extend the time and allow the attorney general’s office or the district attorney’s office objecting to claims to delay compensation and extend their time to oppose,” and would “limit the consideration of new evidence by this board.” He and other speakers said drafts and amendments to the bill appeared to have come from CalVCB or its staff and urged the board to recommit to neutral decision‑making.

The concerns were echoed by retired Santa Clara County Deputy District Attorney Karen Sinoontowery, exonerees Kimberly Long, Stephan Patterson and Jeremy Puckett,…