Under a new state law Michigan will compensate the wrongfully convicted.
When talking about Michigan criminal justice reform, which we do from time to time on this blog, one of the subjects that comes up regularly is compensation of the wrongfully convicted. If you haven’t run into the subject before, it refers to the government providing financial compensation for people who have been wrongfully convicted of crimes and locked up for crimes that they didn’t commit.
Michigan’s criminal justice system has recently undergone some upgrades. Earlier this month Governor Snyder signed an 18 bill package into law, that aimed to reduce recidivism and also addressed the state’s parole and probation laws. Now however, another critical piece of the puzzle has finally been addressed – the issue of compensating those who have been wrongfully convicted by the Michigan criminal justice system.
Senate Bill 291, which was sponsored by State Senator Steve Bieda, makes financial compensation available to those who were wrongfully convicted and locked up by the state of Michigan. House Bill 5815, sponsored by state Representative Stephanie Chang, provides re-entry services for the wrongfully convicted once they are released from prison. The bills, now called Public Acts 343 and 344 of 2016, took effect on March 29 of this year.
Nothing we offered would fully compensate for the true price paid by those who are wrongfully convicted.
In a statement made by Governor Snyder on the day he signed the bills into law, he noted that, “Michigan’s criminal justice system does a tremendous job, however there is always more we can do to make it better, particularly for those who have been wrongfully imprisoned for a crime they didn’t commit. While we will never be able to fully repay those who have been wrongfully imprisoned, this legislation helps support these individuals as they transition back into civilian life.
Under the “Wrongful Imprisonment Compensation Act”, the state of Michigan will provide a wrongfully convicted person with $50,000 for each year of wrongful incarceration they suffered. Additionally, they will also receive financial compensation for attorney’s fees they incurred defending themselves. The Department of Corrections will also now be responsible for providing basic reentry services for people who’ve been released from prison after a wrongful conviction.
In creating Public Acts 343 and 344, Michigan joins with 31 other states and the federal government in providing the wrongfully convicted with partial compensation for their loss. As the Governor pointed out, no amount of money will ever give back the stolen years that they’ve lost, nor erase the pain and suffering they endured. As experienced criminal defense attorneys in Michigan, we understand how heartbreaking it is to be falsely accused of a crime – we have defended many innocent people over the years. However, this is a step in the right direction towards providing redress.
The skilled criminal defense attorneys at The Kronzek Firm have spent decades defending the wrongly accused against false allegations and accusations. One of the best ways to ensure that you or a loved one doesn’t end up behind bars for a crime you didn’t commit is to ensure that you have the best legal representation, right from the beginning. So if you or a loved one have been accused of something that you are innocent of, call us immediately at 866 766 5245. We are here to protect your rights and fight for your future.