North Carolina lawmakers seek to improve exoneree compensation

A bill pending before the North Carolina House of Representatives would increase the compensation paid to exonerees by the state to $50,000 per year served, from $20,000. The proposed bill would also extend services to exonerees – an essential facet of bills helping the exonerated rebuild their lives. It includes provisions for free tuition at state universities and community colleges and a year of job training. The compensation paid to exonerees would be capped at $750,000.

Dwayne Dail was exonerated last year after serving 18 years in prison for a rape he didn’t commit. He received $370,000 in compensation.

"I can take this day and start my life now," Dail said the day he was released. "Today is the first day of the rest of my life and I'm absolutely going to make the most of it."

Read the full story here

. (News 14 Carolina, 06/25/08)

Watch a video interview with Dail here

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Exoneree compensation bills have gained momentum in several states in recent weeks –

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