Proposal would pay prison inmates proven innocent

Proposal would pay prison inmates proven innocent


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Randall Jeppesen reportingA bill that would give cash to former convicts is moving through the legislature.

The bill says if someone is proven innocent after being in prison, they'll get paid a salary (right now around $35,000 a year) for every wrongful year they were locked up.

"When a person gets out of prison they really come out a very damaged individual," said Jensie Anderson, with the Rocky Mountain Innocence Center

Anderson is backing the bill, saying someone proven innocent shouldn't be punished any longer and deserves help to get back on their feet.

"People aren't walking out of prison as innocent people every day of the year," she said.

She calls it an insurance policy for the state. By getting the salary, the person would not be able to sue for millions, which is what commonly happens.

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