An Act for fair compensation for erroneous felony conviction

This bill establishes a legal framework to provide financial compensation to individuals in Massachusetts who have been wrongly convicted of a felony and subsequently imprisoned. It requires courts to determine the specific damages owed to these claimants by considering factors such as lost income, trial circumstances, and the length of incarceration, while also allowing for awards of necessary medical or emotional services and tuition waivers. The legislation sets a minimum compensation amount of $800,000 per case and mandates that payments be made either as a lump sum or through annuity installments with fixed annual limits. Additionally, the act explicitly excludes punitive damages and prohibits the state from paying any interest on the awarded amounts before or after the judgment is issued.