The bill aims to enhance public safety by providing compensation to individuals who have been exonerated from wrongful convictions. It amends Minnesota Statutes to establish a process for awarding preliminary monetary damages to exonerated individuals, specifically when a prosecutor indicates their support for the petition prior to its filing. The compensation includes $5,000 for each year of incarceration and $2,500 for each year served on supervised release or as a registered predatory offender, with provisions for prorating partial years. Additionally, the bill creates an exoneration compensation account within the special revenue fund, appropriating funds for these preliminary damages.
Key amendments include changes to section 590.11, subdivision 3, which clarifies the criteria for eligibility for compensation based on the prosecutor's involvement, and the addition of subdivision 8 to section 611.365, which outlines the process for preliminary monetary damages. Furthermore, a new section, 611.3677, establishes the exoneration compensation account and mandates a transfer of $250,000 from the general fund to support these payments, ensuring that the account maintains a balance sufficient for ongoing compensation needs.
Statutes affected:
Introduction: 590.11, 611.365