Bill pending approval would extend financial compensation for the wrongfully imprisoned

Published: April 10, 2026

By: Izzy Wollfarth, LSU Manship School News Service

BATON ROUGE – Wilbert Jones served 46 years in prison for a crime he did not commit, and after he was released, the state compensated him financially. Now, the Legislature seeks to increase financial compensation for people like Jones who were wrongfully imprisoned.

“People approach us when they know his story, and they make comments like, ‘Oh, you spent half of your life in prison,’” said Mary Jones, his wife, and “I have to correct them and say, ‘No, he has to be 92 years old before he’s even spent half of his life in prison.’” Current state law, passed in 2005, allows petitioners to be awarded up to $40,000 a year for up to 10 years following proof of factual innocence before a judge.

Petitioners are also awarded a one-time lump sum of $80,000 for loss of life opportunities, covering expenses for job skills, housing and education. Funds are provided by the Innocence Compensation Fund, a state fund created under the statute. Senate Bill 125 by Sen. Gerald Boudreaux, D-Lafayette, would maintain the eligibility requirements and compensation amounts but extend the compensation cap from 10 years to 15 years.

The bill was reported favorably in the Senate Judiciary C Committee on Monday and is pending consideration by the Senate Finance Committee.

Read more at KATC.