State Rep. Joey Andrews (D-Saint Joseph) testifies in a House Committee.
LANSING, Mich., Dec. 10, 2024 — State Rep. Joey Andrews (D-St. Joseph) issued the following statement after the Michigan House of Representatives passed House Bill 5431 to fix loopholes in the Wrongful Imprisonment Compensation Act that have prevented wrongfully convicted individuals from receiving compensation:
“This legislation will ensure individuals who were wrongfully convicted in the state of Michigan receive adequate compensation. A wrongful conviction upends a person’s life, bringing forth intense challenges such as financial and mental health struggles, and reentering society is not an easy feat. This bill will close loopholes that have prevented wrongfully convicted individuals the compensation they are owed to help them restart their lives.”
Current law requires individuals to prove they were wrongfully convicted by “clear and convincing evidence.” HB 5431 would require individuals to prove they were wrongfully convicted by a “preponderance of evidence,” which is a less rigorous evidentiary standard. The legislation was introduced in response to two recent Michigan Supreme Court cases, Tomasik v. State and Perry v. State, which asked the Legislature to clarify the statute.
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