Legislators press claims commissioner over eligibility and settlement process for wrongful‑incarceration awards

At a Feb. 14 Judiciary Committee hearing, legislators pressed the state claims commissioner and the attorney general’s office for clearer documentation of how eligibility decisions are made in wrongful‑incarceration awards under the law enacted in 2024.

The claims commissioner’s office described the formula created last year in Public Act 24‑106 and how it has been applied in the handful of claims handled so far. Commissioner Shea said the statute starts by asking whether a claimant is eligible under Conn. Gen. Stat. §54‑102uu and then applies a per‑year calculation based on 200% of median family income, with a statutory discretionary upward or downward adjustment of up to 25%.

“That statute works very well and works very fairly,” Commissioner Shea said, adding the office has used the formula in hearings and in negotiated resolutions. Shea also introduced paralegal specialists Tara DuPont and Janae Carter and paralegal intern Bridal Ledgwood, and praised the staff’s work on complex files.

Why it matters: the committee was told the awards at issue represent large sums of taxpayer money and, committee members said, the legislature needs a clearer record that awards meet the statute’s eligibility threshold before money is paid.

Details of calculations and examples The commissioner described the two‑step approach required by the statute: first determine eligibility under Conn. Gen. Stat. §54‑102uu (vacatur/reversal on grounds of innocence or grounds consistent with…