Wrongfully convicted men who collectively spent more than 200 years in prison for crimes they did not commit are urging Maryland lawmakers to support reforms to prevent and address wrongful convictions.
They shared their stories with state lawmakers on Wednesday.
Lawmakers are sponsoring legislation this year to address how the wrongfully convicted should be compensated.
Last year, the Board of Public Works approved $9 million in compensation for five men who were wrongly imprisoned for a combined 120 years in prison. Lawmakers have taken up legislation before to address compensation of the wrongly convicted, but the measures have not passed.
Lawmakers also say they will introduce legislation to create safeguards against wrongful convictions involving jailhouse witnesses.