The financial connection between wrongful convictions and the costs to taxpayers is a fairly new topic for media discussion. It is rather localized (a $10 million civil award 2013 case from Chicago) in information as nationwide statistics do not appear to be determined. Info in regional media coverage of revelations on what taxpayers are ultimately spending is stunning. The above claim is only for civil costs plus and resulting exoneree compensation package. The amounts do NOT cover for the costs in obtaining the original conviction (add the defense costs) or the costs for the DA post-conviction objections to the exoneration litigation in criminal court). The available expenditure data in Illinois stands as a window into this arena of costs (Illinois $214 million cost [up to 2011] for 85 exoneration cases; a Texas $61 million compilation because of 89 exonerations. . This information also stands in stark opposition to culpable…