Aid for wrongfully convicted in Wisconsin could create open records problem

A Wisconsin bill that would increase compensation for people wrongly convicted of crimes has open records advocates worried over what it would do to court records. 

The bipartisan bill from Rep. Dale Kooyenga (R-Brookfield) and Rep. Gary Hebl (D-Sun Prairie) would help the wrongly convicted with up to $50,000 per year spent behind bars, plus transitional services and access to state health insurance.

Another provision requires a court to seal all records related to the conviction if it's requested by the person freed. Open records advocates say that would make it hard to examine the case to figure out where it went wrong. Continue…

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