2009 House Bill 4790: Authorize wrongful imprisonment compensation

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Introduced by Rep. Jon Switalski (D) on April 2, 2009, to authorize payment by the state of civil damages to a person wrongfully imprisoned for a crime he or she did not commit. The damages would be $40,000 for each year of wrongful imprisonment (adjusted for inflation), plus reasonable attorney fees up to $75,000.
- Referred to the House Judiciary Committee on April 2, 2009.
  - Reported in the House on November 10, 2010, with the recommendation that the substitute (H-3) be adopted and that the bill then pass.

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1) Re: 2009 House Bill 4790 (Authorize wrongful imprisonment compensation ) by randyblock on February 15, 2010

As Americans, we are proud that our justice system uses the notion that a person is considered "innocent until proven guilty", but an estimated 2-14% of all people in our prisons are estimated to be innocent -- at great cost to our State, to the wrongly imprisoned and their families. Learn more about this tragic problem, HR 4790 and what we can do to promote this legislation at a forum scheduled for 2 p.m. March 21 at the Birmingham Unitarian Church, 38651 Woodward Ave., Bloomfield Hills. No charge for this event. For more info, call 248-549-5170.

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2) Re: 2009 House Bill 4790 (Authorize wrongful imprisonment compensation ) by concernedmom on October 26, 2009

I agree. My son was sent to prison, he had 3 different public defenders and none of them wanted to take it to trial so they had him plead no contest so he is doing 1 - 15 years for CSC and he is only 21. I have not been able to get any help at all.

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3) Re: 2009 House Bill 4790 (Authorize wrongful imprisonment compensation ) by duskinr on April 20, 2009

WOW you mean to tell me this law is just now being thought of???? Well I am a strong supporter of this bill. I know too many people who are wrongfully convicted of crimes. One is in prison right now on a crime he know's nothing about and because of some so-called mistaken identity he has served two years so far wrongfully. I would also like to see a bill introduced that will prosecute the prosecutor who gets a conviction of someone if the state did not explore all suspects and possible leads to a suspect before taking someone to trial and destroying their lives.

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