SR80, As Adopted by Senate, September 6, 2017

            Senator Bieda offered the following resolution:

            Senate Resolution No. 80.

            A resolution to commemorate October 2, 2017, as Wrongful Conviction Day.

Whereas, It is of tremendous importance to recognize the personal, social, and legal costs that are associated with wrongful criminal convictions; and

            Whereas, The loss of one's freedom due to a wrongful conviction has far-reaching effects on the innocent person's quality of life, their family, and society as a whole; and

            Whereas, The Innocence Network is a national, nonprofit organization dedicated to identifying, advocating for, and assisting individuals convicted of crimes they did not commit.  It seeks to prevent such injustices in the future through legal education and other reforms to the criminal justice system; and

Whereas, The Innocence Network has three members in Michigan: the Western Michigan Cooley Law School Innocence Project, the Michigan Innocence Clinic and the Wrongful Convictions Units at the Michigan State Appellate Defender Office; and

Whereas, Win Wahrer, director of Client Services at Innocence Canada, crafted the idea to create Wrongful Conviction Day to educate the population on this important legal and social issue; and

            Whereas, It is crucial to understand the importance of recognizing those persons who have been forced to endure the tremendous personal and social consequences of wrongful criminal conviction; and

Whereas, There have been numerous wrongfully-convicted persons in the state of Michigan; and

Whereas, October 2, 2017, has been selected as Wrongful Conviction Day and designated as an international day to educate the international community on the causes, consequences, and complications associated with wrongful criminal convictions; now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the Senate, That members of this legislative body hereby commemorate October

2, 2017, as Wrongful Conviction Day.