SENATE, No. 1036

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

INTRODUCED MAY 2, 1996

By Senators RICE, CARDINALE and Kenny

An Act concerning compensation for persons wrongfully imprisoned and supplementing Title 52 of the Revised Statutes.

    Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

    1. The Legislature finds and declares that innocent persons who have been wrongly convicted of crimes and subsequently imprisoned have been frustrated in seeking legal redress due to a variety of substantive and technical obstacles in the law and that such persons should have an available avenue of redress over and above the existing tort remedies to seek compensation for damages. The Legislature intends by enactment of the provisions of this act that those innocent persons who can demonstrate by clear and convincing evidence that they were unjustly convicted and imprisoned be able to recover damages against the State.

    In light of the substantial burden of proof that must be carried by such persons, it is the intent of the Legislature that the court, in exercising its discretion as permitted by law regarding the weight and admissibility of evidence submitted pursuant to this section, shall, in the interest of justice, give due consideration to difficulties of proof caused by the passage of time, the death or unavailability of witnesses, the destruction of evidence or other factors not caused by such persons or those acting on their behalf.

    2. Notwithstanding the provisions of any other law, any person convicted and subsequently imprisoned for one or more crimes which he did not commit may, under the conditions hereinafter provided, bring a suit for damages in Superior Court against the Department of the Treasury.

    3. The person (hereinafter titled, "the claimant") shall establish the following by clear and convincing evidence:

    a. That he was convicted of a crime and subsequently sentenced to a term of imprisonment, served all or any part of his sentence; and

    b. He did not commit the crime for which he was convicted; and

    c. He did not by his own conduct cause or bring about his conviction.

    4. The suit, accompanied by a statement of the facts concerning the claim for damages, verified in the manner provided for the verification of complaints in civil actions, shall be brought by the claimant within a period of two years after his release from imprisonment, or after the grant of a pardon to him.

    5. This act shall take effect immediately.

STATEMENT

    This bill allows persons who were unjustly imprisoned as a result of being wrongfully convicted of crimes to bring a lawsuit against the State for damages. Under current law, suits for wrongful imprisonment brought against the prosecutor or police are usually barred, due to the statutory immunities of these entities from liability. This bill would not change those immunities. Instead, it authorizes suits directly against the Department of Treasury, thus bypassing the issue of liability. It is the sponsor's intent to allow these persons to be compensated for the damages they suffered because of their wrongful imprisonment, regardless of whether any particular person or entity was at fault for that imprisonment.

Authorizes lawsuits for damages by persons who have been wrongfully convicted and imprisoned.