[BJClinton]

It should be pointed out 85% or so of these cases the rapist was identified by the victim. Still, if they were wrongfully convicted they deserve the payout.

[OldDeckHand]

"It should be pointed out 85% or so of these cases the rapist was identified by the victim."

Which reinforces the theory that eyewitness testimony is about as unreliable as it comes.

[nmh]

What was their income BEFORE they were convicted?

I am not convinced that this is appropriate.

As a taxpayer, I resent mistakes I had NO part in and tired of subsidizing others for ANY reason beyond my control.

[nmh]

Will taxpayers be reimbursed for the “innocent” that were convicted? If not, WHY NOT? It is the taxpayer that keeps getting stuck with the bill! THIS IS WRONG. Make the attorney, personally pay for it or those that railroaded these “innocent” people.

I highly doubt that those convicted would have earned 85K or even 50K a year. To incarcerate people costs MORE than that.

Where’s the refund for the tax payer?

Do you think money grows on trees?

[DallasDeb]

I totally agree.

[staytrue]

It should be pointed out 85% or so of these cases the rapist was identified by the victim. Still, if they were wrongfully convicted they deserve the payout.

Can the victim who wrongly identified be sued ?

[mvpel]

Getting a check in the mail isn’t the same thing as “prosperity.” One woman here in New Hampshire got $400,000 worth of life insurance for her soldier son, and blew it inside of 18 months and wound up flat broke, addicted, and in prison.

[mysterio]

I have no problem with compensating the wrongfully imprisoned. $80k for a year of life among convicts in a poorly guarded environment when you're innocent seems low to me. This is why when there are threads where the prevailing sentiment is "well, he'll get his in prison," it always bothers me. I don't want anyone in prison getting anything other than locked up, because any one of us is one convincing false accusation away from being there ourselves. I would further like to see wardens fired if even one rape occurs under their watch. That would be some good motivation to come up with some ways to keep inmates from raping each other.

[Verbosus]

I agree as well.

Imagine sitting in a 4x8 room 23 hours a day for 10 years.
The wrongfully incarcerated do deserve the $$$.

[babygene]

“It should be pointed out 85% or so of these cases the rapist was identified by the victim.”

If 85% if then lie, that would make a good case for not believing the victim...