Delaware · Senate Bill 169 · 152nd General Assembly

Wrongful Convictions/Compensation/Individuals

SB 169 Sponsored by Kyra L. Hoffner Withdrawn

  1. Introduced Jun 8, 2023
  2. In committee Jun 8, 2023
  3. Withdrawn  
  4. Passed the House  
  5. To the governor  
  6. Became law  

What it does

The legislature's own summary of the bill, or its official long title.

This Act creates a process for compensating individuals who have been wrongfully convicted in the State. To obtain compensation, a petitioner must show (i) that the petitioner was pardoned, or, after the conviction was overturned, the charges were dismissed or the petitioner was acquitted on retrial; or (ii) that the petitioner entered an Alford plea after the conviction was overturned and that the petitioner was…

Read the full title (178 words)

This Act creates a process for compensating individuals who have been wrongfully convicted in the State. To obtain compensation, a petitioner must show (i) that the petitioner was pardoned, or, after the conviction was overturned, the charges were dismissed or the petitioner was acquitted on retrial; or (ii) that the petitioner entered an Alford plea after the conviction was overturned and that the petitioner was innocent of the crimes for which the petitioner was convicted. The prosecuting agency can prevent compensation by showing that petitioners were accomplices to the crimes at issue, or that petitioners intentionally “took the fall” for the true perpetrators. Successful petitioners are awarded damages based on the amount of time they served sentences of incarceration, parole, or registration on the sex offender registry solely as a result of the wrongful convictions, as well as reimbursement of fines, fees, and costs related to the wrongful conviction. The Act also provides an emergency stipend and post-release services for individuals who are released from incarceration and who receive pardons or whose convictions are overturned, vacated, or reversed.

Every action

13 steps, oldest first, as the legislature records them.

Show the 5 earlier steps
  1. CommitteeIntroduced and Assigned to Judiciary Committee in Senate · Senate Judiciary
  2. SenateSubstituted in Senate by SS 1 for SB 169
  3. SenateSubstituted in Senate by SS 2 for SB 169
  4. SenateSS 2 for SB 169 - Reported Out of Committee (Judiciary) in Senate with 1 Favorable, 3 On Its Merits
  5. SenateSubstituted in Senate by SS 3 for SB 169
  1. SenateSS 3 for SB 169 - Passed By Senate. Votes: 20 YES 1 ABSENT
  2. HouseSS 3 for SB 169 - Assigned to Judiciary Committee in House
  3. HouseSS 3 for SB 169 - Reported Out of Committee (Judiciary) in House with 5 Favorable, 1 On Its Merits
  4. SenateSubstituted in Senate by SS 3 for SB 169
  5. HouseSS 3 for SB 169 - - Passed In House by Voice Vote
  6. HouseSS 3 for SB 169 - Passed By House. Votes: 39 YES 2 ABSENT
  7. SenateSS 3 for SB 169 - Passed By Senate. Votes: 21 YES
  8. SS 3 for SB 169 - Signed by Governor

Roll calls

No recorded votes on this bill yet.

Sponsors

The member who introduced it, joined by 3 cosponsors: 3 Democrats.

All 3 cosponsors

From Delaware's official records (legis.delaware.gov), checked Nov 1, 2026. Text links go to the official versions; LegiList does not copy bill text.