By Daniel Stefanski |
Another criminal justice-related bill is making its way through the Arizona Legislature.
Last week, the Arizona House of Representatives approved HB 2813 “to provide compensation for individuals who were wrongfully convicted and incarcerated in Arizona.” The legislation received a unanimous vote of support from lawmakers.
In a statement accompanying the progress of the proposal, State Representative Khyl Powell, the sponsor of the legislation, said, “Accountability applies to everyone – people, institutions, and government itself. When the state wrongfully takes years of someone’s life, it has a responsibility to make things right. I sponsored HB 2813 to ensure that Arizona acknowledges its mistakes, takes responsibility, and provides meaningful compensation to those who have been unjustly imprisoned.”
Powell added, “Government must work for the people, not against them. This bill ensures that those who have been wronged by the system are not left to pick up the pieces on their own.”
According to the press release issued by the Arizona House Republicans, the bill “establishes clear procedures for individuals who have been exonerated to seek compensation from the state. Under the bill, wrongfully convicted Arizonans will receive 200% of the median household income for each year they were incarcerated and have access to critical resources such as mental health treatment, education, and financial planning services to help rebuild their lives. The legislation also mandates the immediate expungement of all records associated with the erroneous conviction, ensuring that exonerated individuals are no longer burdened by a past that was never theirs to bear.”
On the Arizona Legislature’s Request to Speak system, representatives from the Arizona Justice Project, American Civil Liberties Union of AZ, Arizona National Organization for Women, and Arizona Faith Network signed in to support the bill. Representatives from the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office and Arizona Association of Counties indicated their opposition to the proposal.
HB 2813 will now be considered by the Arizona Senate.
Daniel Stefanski is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
