After spending 43 years in prison for a murder case that relied on statements she made as a psychiatric patient, Sandra Hemme may finally be cleared of the killing and released by July 14. Missouri state law promises $100 a day for each day of her life lost to prison on a wrongful conviction, totaling roughly $1.6 million for Hemme. Critics argue that this amount is insufficient for 43 years of wrongful imprisonment, especially compared to the compensation offered in other states like Kansas and Texas.
Livingston County Circuit Judge Ryan Horsman ordered Hemme’s release unless prosecutors retried her in the next 30 days. The case against Hemme lacked forensic evidence or motive, relying solely on her conflicting statements made while in a psychiatric ward. Her lawyers now accuse a discredited police officer of the murder.
If cleared, Hemme’s case would be the longest known wrongful conviction of a woman in U.S. history. However, her compensation for those years in jail would not be a record, as caps on wrongful-conviction compensation vary widely across the country. Missouri’s compensation rate of $36,500 a year is considered low compared to other states.
Despite Gov. Mike Parson’s veto of a bill in 2023 that could have provided higher compensation for wrongly imprisoned inmates, Hemme’s case sheds light on the need for fair compensation and justice for those who have been wrongfully convicted.
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