Chapter 5 - Indemnity for Persons Erroneously Convicted and Pardoned
California Penal Code — §§ 4900-4906
Sections (8)
Amended by Stats. 2019, Ch. 473, Sec. 2. (SB 269) Effective January 1, 2020.
(a)A claim under Section 4900, accompanied by a statement of the facts constituting the claim, verified in the manner provided for the verification of complaints in civil actions, is required to be presented by the claimant to the California Victim Compensation Board within a period of 10 years after judgment of acquittal, dismissal of charges, pardon granted, or release from custody, whichever is later.
(b)For purposes of subdivision (a), “release from custody” means release from imprisonment from state prison or from incarceration in county jail when there is no subsequent parole jurisdiction exercised by the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation or postrelease jurisdiction under
a community
corrections program, or when there is a parole period or postrelease period subject to jurisdiction of a community corrections program, when that period ends.
(c)A person may not file a claim under Section 4900 until 60 days have passed since the date of reversal of conviction or granting of the writ, or while the case is pending upon an initial refiling, or until a complaint or information has been dismissed a single time.
Amended by Stats. 2023, Ch. 702, Sec. 4. (SB 78) Effective January 1, 2024.
(a)If the provisions of Section 851.865 or 1485.55 apply in any claim, the California Victim Compensation Board shall, within 90 days of the filing of the claim, calculate the compensation for the claimant pursuant to Section 4904 and approve payment to the claimant if sufficient funds are available, upon appropriation by the Legislature. As to any claim to which Section 851.865 or 1485.55
does not apply, the Attorney General shall respond to the claim within 60 days or request an extension of time, upon a showing of good cause.
(b)Upon receipt of a response from the Attorney General, the board shall fix a time and place for the hearing of the claim, and shall mail notice thereof to the claimant and to the Attorney General at least 15 days prior to the time fixed for the hearing. The board shall use reasonable diligence in setting the date for the hearing and shall attempt to set the date for the hearing at the earliest date convenient for the parties and the board.
(c)If the time period for response elapses without a request for extension or a response from the Attorney General pursuant to subdivision (a), the board shall fix a time and place for the hearing of
the claim, mail notice thereof to the claimant at least 15 days prior to the time fixed for the hearing, and make a decision based on the claimant’s verified claim and any evidence presented by the claimant.
(d)If subdivision (b) of Section 4900 applies in any claim, the California Victim Compensation Board shall calculate the compensation for the claimant pursuant to Section 4904 and approve payment to the claimant if sufficient funds are available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, unless the Attorney General objects in writing, within 45 days from when the claimant files the claim, with clear and convincing evidence that the claimant is not entitled
to compensation. The Attorney General may request a single 45-day extension of time, upon a showing of good cause. An extension of time beyond this period may be given if agreed upon by stipulation between both parties. Time needed to obtain and review juvenile records may establish good cause for additional 45-day extensions upon a showing that through the exercise of due diligence the Attorney General’s office is unable to obtain sufficient documents for the review. If the Attorney General declines to object within the allotted period of time, then the board shall approve payment pursuant to Section 4904 within
90 days thereafter. Upon receipt of the objection, the board shall fix a time and place for the hearing of the claim, and shall mail notice thereof to the claimant and to the Attorney General at least 15 days prior to the fixed time for the hearing. At a hearing, the Attorney General shall bear the burden of proving by clear and convincing evidence that the claimant committed the acts constituting the offense. If the Attorney General fails to meet this burden, the board shall approve payment to the claimant, calculated pursuant to Section 4904, if sufficient funds are available upon appropriation by the Legislature.
Amended by Stats. 2021, Ch. 490, Sec. 5. (SB 446) Effective January 1, 2022.
(a)Except as provided in Sections 851.865 and 1485.55, and in subdivision (b) of Section 4900, the board shall fix a time and place for the hearing of the claim. At the hearing the claimant shall introduce evidence in support of the claim, and the Attorney General may introduce evidence in opposition thereto. The claimant shall prove the facts set forth in the statement constituting the claim, including the fact that the crime with which they were charged was either not committed at all, or, if committed, was not committed by the claimant, and the injury sustained by them through their erroneous conviction and incarceration.
(b)For claims falling within subdivision (b) of Section 4900 in which the Attorney General objects to the claim pursuant to subdivision (d) of
Section 4902, the board shall fix a time and place for the hearing of the claim. At the hearing, the Attorney General shall bear the burden of proving by clear and convincing evidence that the claimant committed the acts constituting the offense. The claimant may introduce evidence in support of the claim.
(c)In a hearing before the board, the factual findings and credibility determinations establishing the court’s basis for writ of habeas corpus, a motion to vacate pursuant to Section 1473.6 or paragraph (2) of subdivision (a) of Section 1473.7, or an application for a certificate of factual innocence as described in Section 1485.5 shall be binding on the Attorney General, the factfinder, and the board.
(d)A conviction reversed and dismissed is no longer valid, thus the Attorney General may not rely on the fact that the state still maintains that the claimant is guilty of the crime for which they were wrongfully convicted, that the state defended the conviction against the claimant through court litigation, or that there was a conviction to establish that the claimant is not entitled to compensation. The Attorney General may also not rely solely on the trial record to establish that the claimant is not entitled to compensation.
(e)The board shall deny payment of any claim if the board finds by a preponderance of the evidence that a claimant pled guilty with the specific intent to protect another from prosecution for the underlying conviction for which the claimant is seeking compensation.
(f)A presumption does not
exist in any other proceeding if the claim for compensation is denied pursuant to this section. No res judicata or collateral estoppel finding shall be made in any other proceeding if the claim for compensation is denied pursuant to this section.
Added by Stats. 2022, Ch. 58, Sec. 20. (AB 200) Effective June 30, 2022.
On or before September 1 each year, the California Victim Compensation Board shall submit an annual report to the Joint Legislative Budget Committee on approved erroneous conviction claims that were paid in the prior fiscal year. The report shall include a listing of all individuals approved by the board for compensation under this chapter, the amount approved for each individual, and a case summary.
Repealed and added by Stats. 2022, Ch. 58, Sec. 22. (AB 200) Effective June 30, 2022.
The California Victim Compensation Board is immune from liability for damages, including prejudgment interest, for any decision on a claim under this chapter. The immunity granted to the board under this section does not change or affect the immunity provided by Section 820.2 of the Government Code.
Amended by Stats. 2016, Ch. 31, Sec. 255. (SB 836) Effective June 27, 2016.
The California Victim Compensation Board is hereby authorized to make all needful rules and regulations consistent with the law for the purpose of carrying into effect this chapter.