Creates provisions relating to compensation for wrongful convictions
The legislation expands the avenues through which wrongfully convicted individuals can seek compensation and outlines specific parameters for how damages are calculated. Monetary awards are set at $179 per day of wrongful imprisonment, capped at $65,000 annually, alongside specified amounts for additional years spent under parole or supervision and for individuals required to register as sexual offenders. It is also noteworthy that the bill mandates that restitution awards are treated distinctly from punitive damages and claims related to other civil actions, reinforcing the accountability of the state in cases of wrongful conviction.
Senate Bill 883 aims to substantially reform the legal framework regarding compensation for individuals wrongfully convicted of crimes in Missouri. The bill seeks to repeal existing statutes and replace them with new sections that create a 'State Legal Expense Fund.' This fund will cover monetary awards to claimants who are exonerated and found to be innocent of their convictions, focusing on both economic and non-economic damages. Claimants can seek damages from the state after being imprisoned for offenses they did not commit, which reinforces the state's obligation to compensate those who have suffered due to the wrongful actions of its legal system.
Key points of contention surrounding SB 883 include the adequacy of compensation amounts, the potential need for resources for managing claims, and how the legal framework establishes a distinction between wrongful convictions due to negligence versus criminal wrongdoing in the justice system. There may be debate over whether these measures provide sufficient assurance and support for exonerated individuals to successfully reintegrate into society, and whether the terms outlined for claiming damages effectively address the myriad of hardships faced by wrongfully convicted persons.