New Bill Aims to Streamline Compensation for Wrongfully Imprisoned Oregonians
Oregonians wrongfully imprisoned can seek compensation and a formal declaration of innocence, but the process has faced criticism for its length and complexity. A new initiative, Senate Bill 1007, introduced in February, seeks to expedite and simplify this process, ensuring justice is more accessible for exonerees.
The proposed legislation sets a deadline of 180 days for the state to issue initial determinations on compensation claims and allows new evidence to be considered, addressing concerns raised by advocates like Janis Puracal from the Forensic Justice Project. Currently, only eight of 35 compensation petitions have been resolved, leading many to argue that the existing system shortchanges the exonerees, often offering them “pennies on the dollar.”
Sen. Kim Thatcher, a primary author of the bill, emphasized the necessity for change, criticizing the previous administration for its “hostile compliance” towards these claims. SB 1007 follows a 2022 law that allows wrongful convictions to be compensated at $65,000 per year of imprisonment.
The bill recently passed the Senate Judiciary Committee and awaits evaluation from the Joint Ways and Means Committee. If adopted, it will broaden the evidence required for claims, including providing avenues for compensation related to educational losses and expenses incurred for expert witnesses.
Despite concerns, the Oregon Department of Justice remains neutral on the bill but has expressed support for refining the language to facilitate a smoother process. Advocates highlight stories like that of Philip Scott Cannon, wrongfully convicted for a 1998 murder, who has faced lengthy delays in seeking justice. The proposed reforms aim to alleviate such bureaucratic setbacks, ensuring more timely and just reparations for those wrongfully convicted in Oregon.
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