$50K per year in prison: Illinois' new exoneration compensation law | The Chicago Report

Illinois is increasing compensation for wrongfully convicted residents to up to $50,000 for every year spent in prison under the newly signed Certificate of Innocence Act. State Senator Elgie Sims joins the show to discuss why it took until 2026 for Illinois to adopt the federal standard, how the law expands eligibility to juveniles and probation cases and whether past exonerees can receive retroactive pay.