The Innocence Project of Texas

Dear friends of the Innocence Project of Texas,
Here’s a status report on what’s happening with bills supported by the Innocence Project of Texas at the 81st Texas Legislature.
Senator Rodney Ellis and others have been proposing innocence-related legislation at the Texas capitol for nearly a decade, but I don’t think there’s ever been more momentum for [...]

Texas exonerees currently receive $50,000 for every year they spend incarcerated on a wrongful conviction.  However, after paying taxes and possible attorneys fees, the amount they actually receive is far less than the $50,000 promised to them.  That is why a new bill calls for an increase to the compensation amount.  The Fort Worth Star-Telegram [...]

The State of Texas currently provides exonerees $50,000 per year for each year that they were incarcerated on a wrongful conviction ($100,000 if they were sentenced to death).  However, the compensation statute requires that exonerees who apply for compensation waive all rights to civil litigation in their cases.  In addition, high tax rates on the [...]