Sen. Ellis Files Innocence Protection Package

Sen. Rodney Ellis (D-Houston) announced today that he has filed a package of criminal justice reform laws designed to prevent wrongful convictions. The bills reflect many of the recommendations from the Timothy Cole Advisory Panel on Wrongful Convictions that was established during the 81st Legislative Session through HB 498 to investigate the causes of and ways to prevent wrongful convictions.

The Innocence Protection Package includes legislation to increase the accuracy and reliability of eye-witness identification procedures (SB 121), require electronic recording of custodial interrogations for serious felonies (SB 123), improve the state's post-conviction DNA testing statute (SB 122), and update the Fair Defense Act to improve criminal defense representation for indigent defendants (SB 170).

"I have high hopes that 2011 will finally be the year that the Texas Legislature says 'enough is enough' when it comes to putting innocent people in prison," said Sen. Ellis. "Ensuring that evidence is reliable, the innocent are freed and the truly guilty are punished are things that Democrats and Republicans, conservatives and progressives can agree on. Let's prove to the people of Texas and the world that restoring trust in the criminal justice system is one of the Lone Star State's top priorities."

Read the full press release here.