Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1913-08-29
No. GIL Al Published May 9, 1918.
CHAPTER 1859. LAWS OF 1918

No. 62l, A. Published May o, 1913.
CHAPTER I89. LAWS OF 1918.
AN ACT. 10 create section 3203a of the statutes,
relating TO compensation for imprisonment of in
nocent persons. and making appropriation.
The people of the State of Wisconsin, represented In
Senate and Assembly do enact as follows:
Section l. There is added to the statutes a new
section to read Section S203a. l. The governor
and the members OF the state board Of control are
hereby constituted a board to be known as the board
for the relief Of persons who have served terms OF
Imprisonment upon conviction for an ofFeuse or
crime against the state of which they are nnocent
The secretary Of the state board of control shah be
the secretary of the board hereby created
2. Any person who hereafter shall have served q
term of Imprisonment under conviction for a crime
oense against the state. of which crime or offense
he claims to have been innocent. or any person who
shall hare been pardoned by the governor on the
ground of innocence and whose of imprisonment
shall thereby have been decreased may petition the
hoard constituted in this section for the allowance
from the late of compensation for such wrongful
Imprisonment.
5. Such board shall hold hearing on such
petition and shall cause evidence Of the character
hereinafter mentioned to be produced before it, After
hearing the evidence. the board shall make hnd-
ing that 1t is clear beyond reasonable doubt tha,
he petitioner was innocent of the crime or offense
for which he suffered imprisonment or that it is
clear beyond reasonable doubt that the petitioner
was innocent of the crime or efense for which he
was imprisoned Upon the hearing before the board
the record Of the trial in which the conviction was
had may be presented to the board for the purpose
Of enabling the board TO understand the situation
but the finding of the board shall be based only
on such evidence or circumstances have bean dis
covered or nave arisen since the convic-
ton Of the petitioner of the crime or ofYense for
which ne claims to have suffered wrongful imprison-
ment.
4. If the board shall hnd that the petitioner was
innocent Of the crime offense for which he has
suffered imprisonment, and that be did NOT by his
act or failure 10 act contribute bring sbout the
conviction and imprisonment for which he seeks COM
pensaion the board shall proceed to find Inc amount
which will compensate the petitioner for his wrong
ful imprisonment Such board may award a COM
pensation to the petitioner found innocent of not
10 exceed five thousand dollars in any case and Al,
rate Of compensation greater han fifteen hum
dred dollars per year fer the Imprisonment so un-
Justly suffered If the board shall find that the
amount they may be able to award viii not be an
adequate compensation the petitioner they shall
report amount to the legislature which they shall
deem 10 be adequate and shall recommend the appr0-
priation BY the legislature the petitioner of the
amount in excess Of the amount they may have
awarded
5. The board shall keep fun and complete record
Of its proceedings in each and of the evidence
produced before them The findings and the award
the beard shall be subject review on an appeal,
by the circuit court for Dane county. but the appeal
shah be subject to the limitations as apply
the findings and awards made by the board
c, The award shall be certified BY the board 70
the secretary Of state and upon being audited BY
him shah be paid out OF the state treasury.
:. There Is Appropriated out Of any money IN the
state treasury nos otherwise appropriated sum sur
icient 10 carry out the provisions Of this section
Section :. This act shall take effect and ps In
force from and after It's passage and publication
Approved May s. 1913.