Bill > SB169

This bill aims to improve Hawaii's wrongful imprisonment compensation law by making several key changes. The legislation requires the Department of Corrections to provide written notice to individuals whose criminal convictions have been reversed or vacated, or who have been pardoned, about their ability to file a claim for redress. The bill introduces a more liberal interpretation of the existing law, designed to ensure that people wrongfully convicted and imprisoned can more easily receive compensation. It changes the standard for compensation from requiring explicit "actual innocence" to a broader standard that supports the conclusion that the person did not commit the crime. The bill also establishes a presumptive validity for petitions from individuals whose convictions were overturned or who were pardoned, and creates an advance compensation mechanism that provides petitioners with $5,000 monthly payments (totaling up to the equivalent of one year's compensation) while their claim is being processed. Additionally, the bill requires the Attorney General to report to the Legislature about the status of all petitions filed under this law for the next three years, providing transparency about how these claims are being handled. The underlying goal is to provide a more supportive and expeditious process for individuals who have been wrongfully convicted and imprisoned to seek financial redress.

Budget and Finance, Justice

https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session/measure_indiv.aspx?billtype=SB&billnumber=169&year=2026