AB-583/ SB-577: Compensation for the Wrongfully Convicted

In 1913, Wisconsin became the first state in the nation to compensate individuals wrongfully convicted of a crime. Today, over 75% of states now compensate those wrongfully convicted, as well as the District of Columbia and the Federal government. However, Wisconsin has not updated the compensation these individuals can receive since 1980, when the yearly cap was raised from $1,500 a year to $5,000 and the overall cap was raised from $5,000 to $25,000.

This bill would increase the yearly compensation from $5,000 to $50,000, increasing the overall cap from $25,000 to $1 million, creating a transition to release plan for all future exonerees of wrongful convictions, giving access to healthcare, sealing their records, providing an immediate amount of compensation upon release, and allowing anyone wrongfully convicted and released since 1990 the opportunity to re-petition the Claims Board for
additional compensation.

No amount of money can fully compensate someone for a wrongful conviction, but this bill would at least bring Wisconsin closer in line with other states and the federal government in terms of monetary compensation.