Utah is one of the 28 states lacking a law to compensate the wrongfully convicted upon their release, but the Rocky Mountain Innocence Center is working to change that. A bill that would compensate exonerees with $40,000 for each year they were wrongfully imprisoned passed a Utah Senate interim committee this summer and is set for introduction during the 2008 session. The bill passed the House last year, but didn’t make it to a Senate vote.
Katie Monroe is the executive director of the RMIC, which is affiliated with University of Utah’s law school. She said the compensation bill’s success will rely on a unique partnership with prosecutors.
The center teamed with the Utah Attorney General's Office to promote the bill – a partnership Monroe called nearly unprecedented.
"We were able to bring two seemingly opposing sides to find the middle ground," she said. "I think that's incredible."
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. (Salt Lake Tribune, 11/26/07)
I would like to help. I have a job so, compensation is irrelevant. I know how to talk with people. I could give 10 or so hours a week. I know that is not nearly enough but, I am here. Reach out to me if you need a foot soldier.
Thank you for all you do