Florida Bill Would Expand Wrongfully Imprisoned Compensation Law

Last week, the Florida House unanimously approved a bill that would allow the expansion of the law compensating individuals that have been wrongfully imprisoned for crimes they did not commit. As it currently stands, prisoners that have been imprisoned unjustly receive about $50,000 each year they were in prison. However, this does not mean that individuals that were formerly convicted of an unrelated violent crime are allowed to make a claim.

Should the bill clear all the hurdles to become law, it would affect that is exonerated after the first of July. The WTOP article tells the story of a one-time death row inmate who is supporting the bill even though he cannot take advantage of its benefits. The man sat on death row for a pair of years before being released following a unanimous decision in 2009 by the state Supreme Court after it was found there was insufficient evidence to convict him of a South Florida murder in 1994.

This update is published by The Law Offices of Mark Eiglarsh, a F ort Lauderdale criminal defense lawyer. Areas of practice include criminal defense, white collar crimes, drug crimes, fraud, DUI, sex crimes, domestic violence, and more. With over two decades of experience, Mark is committed to obtaining the best possible outcome for his valued clients under difficult circumstances. For more information or to schedule a consultation, please call 954-500-0003 in Broward or 305-674-0003 in Miami.

This information is provided for educational or informational purposes only and should not be construed as legal advice. The information is not provided in the course of an attorney-client relationship and is not intended to substitute for legal advice.