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Panel backs raising wrongful-conviction compensation cap from $400,000 to $600,000
Summary
The committee voted April 29 to report favorably Senate Bill 125, which would increase wrongful-conviction compensation from $40,000 per year for up to 10 years to $40,000 per year for up to 15 years (raising the cap from $400,000 to $600,000). Supporters said longer payments better reflect decades lost to wrongful imprisonment.
The Criminal Justice Committee on April 29 reported Senate Bill 125 favorably. The measure would increase statutorily authorized wrongful-conviction compensation from $40,000 per year for up to 10 years to $40,000 per year for up to 15 years, raising the maximum award from $400,000 to $600,000.
Sen. Boudreaux told the committee the statute recognizes the state—an make mistakes and that the proposed adjustment is intended to better help innocent people rebuild lives after long periods of incarceration. "Innocent people who served 30 or 40 years receive compensation, $40,000 for 10 years. The purpose of this bill is to increase the limit," he said.
Zach Crawford of Innocence and Justice, Louisiana, testified in support and said the current $40,000-per-year figure places the state in the lower tier among states with compensation statutes. The committee discussed mechanics of payment and whether compensation is paid as an annual installment; witnesses clarified the statutory structure pays annual installments over the applicable number of years rather than a single lump sum.
Representative Moore moved the bill favorably and the committee recorded no objections, reporting SB 125 favorably out of committee. Supporters noted the presence of people who were long-wrongfully incarcerated; Sen. Boudreaux referenced an individual who served 46 years as an example of why the change is needed.
The committee did not record a roll-call tally in the hearing record; the committee reported the bill favorably with no objections and it will proceed to the next step in the legislative process.
