Public Media from Michigan State University

Lawmakers Say Wrongly Convicted Deserve $60K For Every Year

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People who were wrongfully convicted would be entitled to $60 thousand for each year they spent in prison under legislation unveiled Thursday at the state Capitol.

We have more from The Michigan Public Radio Network’s Rick Pluta.

More than 30 states and the federal government pay people who were wrongly imprisoned. Typically, part of the deal is an agreement not to sue.

But state Senator Steve Bieda says an innocent person who was imprisoned shouldn’t have to sue.

“I don’t think anybody out there would disagree that if somebody was innocent of a crime and they spent time in prison, they shouldn’t be somehow made whole,” he says.  “This is an attempt to do that.”

Democrats and Republicans have signed on as supporters. Bieda says that gives him hope the legislation will be adopted in this session of the Legislature.

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Rick Pluta is Senior Capitol Correspondent for the Michigan Public Radio Network. He has been covering Michigan’s Capitol, government, and politics since 1987. His journalism background includes stints with UPI, The Elizabeth (NJ) Daily Journal, The (Pontiac, MI) Oakland Press, and WJR. He is also a lifelong public radio listener.