Georgia has begun issuing payments to people whose criminal convictions were overturned, following the creation and funding of a new statewide compensation program.combined wro
But the problem is that while of the 56 exonorees filing claims for more than 600 combined years of being wrongfully incarcerated the cost of full compensation is in the multi-millions, more like $60 million dollars.
Under Georgia’s Wrongful Conviction and Incarceration Compensation Act (passed in 2025), there is no absolute statutory cap on the maximum total amount an exoneree can receive. Compensation is instead calculated at a base rate of $75,000 for each year of wrongful incarceration, with an additional $25,000 for each year spent on death row
The payouts come after lawmakers approved a $5 million fund as part of the state’s 2027 budget, enabling the implementation of the Wrongful Conviction Compensation Act passed in 2025. Until the funding was secured, the program existed without the ability to distribute payments.
Under the law, eligible individuals can receive about $76,000 for each year of wrongful imprisonment, with an additional $25,000 per year for time spent on death row. Claims are reviewed in administrative law courts, where applicants must prove their innocence by a preponderance of the evidence.
Attorney Andrew Fleischman, who represented one of the first successful applicants, confirmed payments are now being processed. His client, Kelvin Bradley, is among the first to receive compensation.
Under Georgia’s Wrongful Conviction and Incarceration Compensation Act, judges have approved compensation for four individuals, though legal disputes and appeals have delayed actual payouts for some. Overall, dozens of claims remain active or pending review by the state.
Among those approved is Mario Stinchcomb, who spent nearly 19 years in prison before his conviction was overturned. His compensation, estimated at $1.4 million, has been approved and is pending distribution.
