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Michigan court to look at law that pays wrongly convicted

Posted at 6:11 AM, Jan 29, 2020
and last updated 2020-01-29 06:11:40-05

DETROIT (AP) — The Michigan Supreme Court is interested in a dispute about whether people who were wrongly convicted of crimes should be paid for time spent in custody before trial.

The court said Friday it will hear arguments in the months ahead.

State law grants $50,000 for each year spent in prison because of a wrongful conviction. The Michigan appeals court said the law makes no reference to compensating people for being locked up without bond before trial.

The Supreme Court is focusing on the case of Davontae Sanford, whose murder convictions in Wayne County were set aside because of police misconduct. He was paid $408,000 for his prison time but also wants money for 198 days spent in a detention center for teenagers.