INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — An Indiana Senate panel has given its approval to a bill that would compensate Hoosiers found to have been wrongfully convicted and imprisoned.
The Senate Corrections and Criminal Law committee made minor revisions to the House-approved legislation Tuesday before voting 7-0 in favor of it. Another Senate panel will next consider the bill.
Indiana is one of 17 states that provide no compensation for people exonerated of crimes.
The legislation would generally permit a person who is convicted of a crime he or she did not commit and later is exonerated to receive $50,000 for each year they were wrongfully incarcerated.
To receive the money, individuals would have to dismiss any existing civil lawsuit or agree not to sue the state, a local government or any public official or employee.
