Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel is formalizing the process for awarding compensation to wrongfully convicted individuals.
Nessel on Wednesday established a four person board to oversee claims for compensation under the Wrongful Imprisonment Compensation Act.
Under the act, individuals whose cases meet the legal standard for wrongful conviction are eligible for $50,000 in compensation for each year they were in prison.
The legal standard includes the requirement that new evidence demonstrates an individual did not perpetrate or work as an accomplice to a crime and that they either have their charges dismissed or are found not guilty.
Kelly Rossman-McKinney is a spokesperson for the Attorney General. She said the four person board will review requests made under WICA.
“In the past this has all been done and determined at the staff level but not with a formal protocol,” Rossman-McKinney said.
She said the board is intended to formalize and oversee the compensation process.
The board will be made up of two career prosecutors, a civil litigator, and a former criminal defense attorney to have “representation for each of those skill sets” in reviewing cases, according to Nessel.
Rossman-McKinney said the board will not try to restrict funds being issued to wrongfully imprisoned individuals.
“So this board will be resolute in its charge to ensure that there is a consistent, continuous oversight of all of the claims,” she said.
Rossman-McKinney said the board will be “mindful stewards” of taxpayer dollars while ensuring people who deserve compensation, receive it.