Congratulations to Florida

Still 25 States to go, though

People who have been wrongfully sent to prison will receive automatic compensation from the state under a new law signed by Governor Charlie Crist. People proven innocent after spending time behind bars would automatically get $50,000 for every year they spent in prison. The new law (SB 756), though, would exclude those with prior felony records. They would be able, though, to pursue individual compensation through the Legislature's claims process.

Lawmakers passed the bill after the release in recent years of several inmates after DNA tests showed they could not have committed the crimes for which they had been convicted. Florida becomes the 25th state to have a law automatically compensating the wrongfully imprisoned.

The Innocence Project of Florida says Florida is the first, however, to have a provision barring people with prior records from getting money automatically. The Innocence Project works to free individuals who are wrongfully incarcerated. Currently, nine people have been exonerated in Florida based on DNA evidence showing they were innocent. One has died and two have already been compensated.

Of the remaining six, two people would appear eligible for compensation under the bill. Chad Heins was exonerated in December 2007 after spending 11 years in prison after being wrongfully convicted of murdering his sister-in-law. The other eligible individual, Luis Diaz, was exonerated in 2005 after spending 25 years in prison on charges of being a serial rapist.

Original report here

The appalling Heins case was based on circumstantial evidence only. DNA eventually cleared him. See here



(And don't forget your ration of Wicked Thoughts for today)