Poor Services for the Wrongly Convicted After Release

David Sanders was wrongly convicted in a child molestation witch hunt. He has been freed, but is on the verge of bankruptcy since Milwaukee law caps awards at $5,000 per year for wrongful imprisonment. The Innocence Project has attracted a lot of publicity for getting the innocent released but there seems to be little compensation for the victims. Notably absent, in nearly every single case, is the lack of responsibility borne by the prosecutors and police. They get all the credit for these fake arrests and convictions, why should they get a pass on the shameful conduct of putting an innocent person in prison?

The state claims board seems likely to at least pay the $18,000 in attorney bills for Sanders ' first attorney. But under limits set in 1980, Sanders is entitled to a maximum of $5,000 for the eight months he was wrongly imprisoned.

Lichstein said Wisconsin ranks dead last among states that compensate people wrongly imprisoned. Wisconsin awards $5,000 a year, with a total cap of $25,000. By contrast, Alabama allows up to $50,000 per year in prison with no cap. Texas has raised its total cap to $500,000.
And states such as Virginia offer immediate financial assistance of up to $15,000 for those newly released.

Ironically, Sanders would have received more state services if he had committed the crime and was released on parole.