Missouri lawmakers recently held the first hearing for Senate Bill 36, which proposes compensating individuals who have been wrongfully imprisoned. The bill, discussed in the Senate Judiciary Committee, would allow exonerees to claim damages at a rate of $179 per day of wrongful imprisonment, with a cap of $65,000 per fiscal year.
Supporters, including Tricia Rojo Bushnell, executive director of the Midwest Innocence Project, emphasized the urgent need for financial assistance. Exonerees often face overwhelming challenges—ranging from securing housing to accessing health care and employment—after being released, with little to no support in place. Rojo Bushnell noted instances where exonerees, like Lamar Johnson, who was freed in 2023 after 28 years, have had to navigate these difficulties alone.
Lamar Johnson’s release highlighted the issue of wrongful convictions in Missouri, which has gained increasing attention. In 2021, Kevin Strickland was exonerated after serving 43 years for a triple murder he didn’t commit, thanks to recanted testimony. Strickland, who also testified in support of the bill, described the harrowing experience of losing decades of his life and called for meaningful compensation.
Currently, Missouri provides a daily payment of $100 for exonerees found guilty through DNA evidence. However, those exonerated by other means—like Strickland—don’t qualify under the current system. Previous efforts to pass similar legislation in 2023 were vetoed by former Governor Mike Parson, who argued that the state should not bear the financial burden of prosecutorial errors made at the local level.
This bill aims to ensure that those who have been wrongfully imprisoned are supported as they re-enter society, acknowledging the irreversible impact such experiences have on their lives.
