Justice for Exonerees Act
This bill, formally titled the "Justice for Exonerees Act," updates federal compensation rules for individuals who were wrongfully convicted and imprisoned under federal law. It increases the mandatory statutory payment from $50,000 to $70,000 for each year spent unjustly incarcerated. Crucially, it also introduces an annual inflation adjustment tied to the Consumer Price Index (CPI), ensuring the compensation amount retains its real-world value over time. The legislation addresses the severe erosion of the current $50,000 standard—which hasn’t changed since 1988 and is now worth only about $28,000 in today’s dollars—by providing more meaningful financial support to exonerees who face immense challenges reintegrating into society after wrongful imprisonment. While it applies only to federal cases, its passage would set a stronger national benchmark for compensating injustice.
Key Points
- 1Increases the statutory compensation for each year of wrongful federal imprisonment from $50,000 to $70,000, a 40% immediate raise to reflect modern economic realities.
- 2Mandates annual inflation adjustments using the Consumer Price Index (CPI), preventing future devaluation of the compensation amount.
- 3Applies specifically to claims under 28 U.S.C. §2513, which governs compensation for individuals exonerated after federal convictions.
- 4Does not replace or limit other legal avenues for exonerees to seek additional damages through civil lawsuits against responsible parties.
- 5Takes effect immediately upon enactment, with the inflation adjustment applying to all future claims and potentially recalibrating pending cases.