Political Updates
Chapter Nine: Laws, Courts, and Justice

(Introduction), pgs. 352-353

In 2001, Texas joined New York, Illinois, and California in requiring post-conviction DNA testing for those cases in which DNA-test results could make a difference in establishing innocence. Virginia and North Carolina later adopted similar laws. The 77th Legislature also passed a bill to compensate individuals who were wrongfully imprisoned in an amount of $25,000 per year of incarceration up to a maximum of $500,000.