Wisconsin Lawmakers Fail to Increase Compensation for Wrongly Convicted

Proposed reform bill to boost payouts for exonerated individuals stalls in legislature despite bipartisan support

Mar. 31, 2026 at 2:54pm

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A serene, cinematic painting of an empty prison cell filled with warm, diagonal sunlight and deep shadows, conveying the lasting impact of wrongful incarceration through a contemplative, nostalgic visual metaphor.The quiet, solitary confinement of wrongful imprisonment casts a long shadow over the lives of those unjustly incarcerated, underscoring the urgent need for reform.Waupun Today

Wisconsin lawmakers have once again failed to pass legislation that would significantly increase compensation for individuals who were wrongly convicted and imprisoned. The proposed reform bill, which had bipartisan support, aimed to provide $50,000 per year of imprisonment up to $1 million, as well as allow exonerated individuals to petition for transition assistance. Despite multiple attempts, the bill did not receive a vote in either chamber before the legislative session ended.

Why it matters

This case highlights the ongoing struggle in Wisconsin to provide adequate compensation and support for those who have been wrongly convicted and imprisoned. The current system caps payouts at just $25,000, which many advocates argue is woefully insufficient given the immense personal and financial toll of wrongful incarceration. Failure to pass reform legislation means exonerated individuals like Gabriel Lugo will continue to face significant barriers to rebuilding their lives after release.

The details

The proposed reform bill, co-authored by Republican Rep. Jessie Rodriguez and Democratic Sen. Chris Larson, would have increased the compensation for wrongly convicted individuals from $5,000 per year up to a $25,000 maximum, to $50,000 per year up to $1 million. It would also have allowed exonerated individuals to petition the court for a transition-to-release plan from the Department of Corrections. While the bill advanced through committees in both chambers, it ultimately did not receive a vote before the legislative session ended.

  • In December 2025, Gabriel Lugo testified before a state Assembly committee about his experience being wrongly convicted and imprisoned.
  • Lugo was exonerated and released from the Waupun Correctional Institution in 2023, after serving over a decade for a crime he did not commit.
  • The Wisconsin Claims Board awarded Lugo the maximum $25,000 compensation allowed under current law, as well as $77,000 in attorney fees, and recommended the Legislature provide an additional $750,000.

The players

Gabriel Lugo

An individual who was wrongly convicted and imprisoned for over a decade before being exonerated in 2023.

Rep. Jessie Rodriguez

A Republican state representative who co-authored a bill to significantly increase compensation for the wrongly convicted.

Sen. Van Wanggaard

A Republican state senator who chaired the Senate Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety and expressed frustration that the reform bill did not pass.

Sen. Chris Larson

A Democratic state senator who co-authored the bill to increase compensation for the wrongly convicted.

Wisconsin Claims Board

The state board that decides whether individuals meet the standards for compensation for wrongful imprisonment, with a current maximum payout of $25,000.

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What they’re saying

“The failure to get this common-sense bill done has been frustrating.”

— Sen. Van Wanggaard, Chair, Senate Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety

“After years of wrongful imprisonment, our clients leave prison without savings, without employment, and often, without a place to call home. They also leave with medical ailments and emotional trauma.”

— Christopher Lau, Wisconsin Innocence Project

What’s next

Rep. Jessie Rodriguez is optimistic the reform bill can pass in the next legislative session, stating she thinks 'we can get to the finish line with enough time to work out any issues' when the Legislature reconvenes.

The takeaway

This case highlights the ongoing challenges in Wisconsin to provide adequate compensation and support for individuals who have been wrongly convicted and imprisoned. Despite bipartisan efforts, the state has repeatedly failed to update its outdated laws, leaving exonerated people like Gabriel Lugo struggling to rebuild their lives after release.