For more than six years of my life, I was wrongfully incarcerated in an Oregon prison. It s time for the state to do the right thing, writes Earl Bain.
For more than six years of my life, I was wrongfully incarcerated in an Oregon prison. It s time for the state to do the right thing, writes Earl Bain.
The Senate Committee on Judiciary and Ballot Measure 110 Implementation met on Feb. 7. The committee heard public testimony on Senate Bill 1584, which would allow individuals to petition for compensation if they were convicted of and imprisoned for a felony that was later reversed, vacated, pardoned by the governor or subject to a retrial during which the person was found not guilty. Eligible petitioners would include young people who were in the custody of the Oregon Youth Authority for at least a year.
Opinion: Oregon should pay those who are wrongfully convicted
Updated Feb 17, 2021;
Posted Feb 17, 2021
Oregon is one of 15 states that don t offer financial compensation to those who are wrongfully convicted, the author writes.pixabay
Facebook Share
Thatcher, R-Keizer, represents Senate District 13 in the Oregon Legislature.
Earl Bain was going through a difficult divorce after returning from his tour of duty in Afghanistan when he was wrongfully convicted by a nonunanimous jury for sexual abuse. Despite no physical evidence against him, Earl spent six years behind bars and was forced to register as a sex offender
after his release in 2019.
Last August, he received a rare pardon from the governor. Not only did the witness who accused him of the crime recant her testimony, but even the Malheur County district attorney supported his pardon, as news organizations reported. Just as Earl had insisted all along, he was innocent.