Innocence Commission Pilot Programs: Post-Conviction Justice Unit.

(1) Existing law provides for the prosecution of crimes by the district attorney of each county. Existing law establishes the office of the Attorney General to prosecute crimes at the state level and to provide technical assistance to local law enforcement, including district attorneys' offices. This bill, until January 1, 2029, would require the Attorney General to choose 3 counties in which to establish Innocence Commission Pilot Programs to further the district attorneys' commitment to justice, professional ethics, and integrity, and to effectuate the district attorneys' duty to prevent and rectify the conviction of innocent persons. The bill would require participating district attorneys' offices to establish an Innocence Commission, to review cases submitted to it to determine if a person is factually innocent, has been wrongfully committed, or should receive relief in the interest of justice, as specified. The bill would require participating district attorneys' offices to track specified metrics and to report them to the Attorney General's office quarterly. The bill would require the Attorney General's office to submit annual progress reports to the Legislature by January 31 of each year until 2029, as specified. (2) Existing law establishes the Department of Justice under the direction and control of the Attorney General, which is composed of the Office of the Attorney General and those other divisions, bureaus, branches, sections, or other units as the Attorney General may create within the department pursuant to certain law. This bill would establish in the Department of Justice a Post-Conviction Justice Unit. The bill would prescribe the duties of the unit as including, among other things, working in partnership with local district attorneys to conduct investigations and reviews aimed at resolving wrongful or other improper criminal convictions. The bill would require the unit to develop formal protocols and standards to implement these provisions by July 31, 2026.