Though no one can give Steven Avery back the 18 years he spent in prison, some are willing to challenge the law and get him increased monetary compensation, Gov. Jim Doyle announced Friday.
Last week, a UW-Madison law school group called the Wisconsin Innocence Project used a DNA test to prove Avery's innocence in the attempted murder for which he was serving 32 years in prison.
Now Doyle, as well as the Wisconsin Innocence Project, will challenge the legal compensation cap of $25,000 for those wrongfully imprisoned, according to Keith Findley, co-director for the Wisconsin Innocence Project.
\I don't think that statutory cap has been changed in many, many years and it's way out of date now,"" Findley said.
According to Findley, changing the law is only one of two ways to obtain increased compensation in situations where a person was wrongfully accused. The other alternative is for the State Legislature to reconsider the award on a case-by-base basis. If they deem the compensation insufficient, they have the authority to increase it.
Findley said he thinks Avery deserves to explore both options.
""I think the law itself has to be changed, but also consideration ought to be given on an individual basis to giving Mr. Avery a greater award,"" he said.
Though the Wisconsin Innocence Project members have not yet begun vying for additional aid, Findley said they plan to pursue such options in the future.
Until then, Findley will most likely receive the $25,000, an approximate $1,389 reimbursement for each year he spent in prison.
Findley said he does not yet know the additional amount Wisconsin Innocence Project members or Doyle will seek for Avery. He said while he knows $25,000 is too little, members must assess other similar cases to determine an appropriate value.
""It's really hard to put a price tag on what he suffered.""
