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GA HR1041
Resolution
Status
Engrossed
3/12/2020
Primary Sponsor
Craig Gordon
Click for details
AI Summary
- Mark Jason Jones was wrongfully convicted of malice murder on November 19, 1992, and sentenced to life plus five years in prison, spending over 25 years incarcerated before the Georgia Supreme Court unanimously overturned his conviction on November 2, 2017, due to exculpatory evidence withheld from his defense team
- The conviction was primarily based on testimony from a partial eyewitness who was pressured to provide false testimony and later fully recanted; a nolle prosequi was entered on the indictment in July 2018
- The wrongful conviction also resulted in an other than honorable discharge from the U.S. Army, denying Jones military service and Department of Veterans Affairs benefits
- The Department of Administrative Services is authorized and directed to pay $1,000,000 to Mark Jason Jones, structured as an initial lump sum payment of $50,000 followed by equal monthly annuity installments over 20 years
- Upon Jones's death, annuity payments continue to his estate or heirs; the annuities are non-assignable, and the payment represents full and complete satisfaction of all claims against the state
Legislative Description
Jones, Mark Jason; compensate
Last Action
Senate Read and Referred
3/13/2020
Full Bill Text
No bill text available