Non-DNA Exonerees Had to Fight for Pay

Dallas Morning News, May 22, 2012

Four men freed from Texas prisons after courts determined they were innocent have had to fight the state’s chief steward of finances to win compensation . . .

 Wrongly Convicted won’t pay taxes on compensation

Associated Press, November 16, 2010

Some former inmates who were wrongly convicted say they feel twice cheated — first for being imprisoned and then again when the government taxed them on the money they were paid to make amends.  A recent Internal Revenue Service decision, however, means the federal government will no longer collect income tax on that money, allowing exonerated ex-inmates nationwide to keep payments meant to compensate them for their time in prison. 

 Editorial: Exonerated Texans have suffered enough; don’t cut their compensation

Austin American-Statesman, November 30, 2010

Comptroller Susan Combs’ office is using a strict reading of the law to slash compensation payments to some people who were wrongly imprisoned.  That might meet the letter of the law, but it surely cuts against its spirit to make whole to the best of the state’s ability folks whose liberties were denied and dignity stolen because of a flawed justice system. 

 Texas House OKs Wrongful Conviction Bill

Associated Press, May 14, 2009

With the help of DNA testing, Texas has freed more wrongly convicted people than any other state. Soon it will compensate them better than any other state, too.

 Texas Exoneree Suing to Receive Full Compensation

Associated Press, August 15, 2011

According to Lindsey’s lawsuit, the comptroller has denied him eight year’s worth of payments on the grounds that he was serving a concurrent sentence for a guilty plea to attempted rape . . . Lindsey’s attorney, Kris Moore, said the comptroller is “insulting” Lindsey by “nickel and diming” a man who spent nearly half his life wrongfully imprisoned.

 Exoneree Pushing State for Payment

Dallas Morning News, August 15, 2011

“It appears they are trying to make their own determination whether he is innocent or that he’s not innocent enough,” Moore said.  “The Court of Criminal Appeals found him actually innocent.  That is enough.”