Exoneree Compensation Fund
The 67th Montana Legislature established an exoneree compensation fund to pay individuals who have been wrongfully convicted of felony crimes and subsequently exonerated by the courts. In order to be eligible for compensation, a claimant cannot currently be serving a prison sentence and must have been convicted and imprisoned for one or more felony crimes that he/she did not commit. A claimant may bring a civil action in the county of conviction at the court in which the conviction originated. If the court finds that the claimant is entitled to judgement, damages are awarded according to a schedule provided by the Montana Legislature in Title 46 Montana Codes Annotated. The Risk Management & Tort Defense Division administers an Exoneree Compensation Fund and pays claims from a state special revenue account.