How to use the wrongful conviction claim deadline calculator
Compensation after an exoneration is not automatic. You have to file, and the window closes. This tool takes the date the conviction was vacated or the pardon issued, applies the limitation period you select, and shows the filing deadline along with the federal statutory ceiling on an award.
How the numbers work - The deadline is measured in whole years from the vacatur date, and a deadline that lands on a Saturday, Sunday or legal holiday rolls forward to the next business day. The award figure multiplies the years of wrongful incarceration by the per-year federal cap; it is a maximum, not a prediction.
Legal basis - Federal claims are brought under 28 U.S.C. §1495 and §2513, with the general Court of Federal Claims limitation in 28 U.S.C. §2501, and §2513(e) caps awards at $50,000 for each 12 months of incarceration, or $100,000 for each 12 months served under a death sentence. Roughly 35 states also have their own compensation statutes with different periods. Figures are current as of September 2026; confirm your own state statute.
This calculator is for reference only and is not legal advice. Consult a licensed attorney about your specific case.
Frequently Asked Questions
In the United States Court of Federal Claims under 28 U.S.C. §1495, with the proof requirements set out in 28 U.S.C. §2513, including a certificate of innocence or a pardon granted on innocence grounds.
No. The figures in 28 U.S.C. §2513(e) are ceilings per 12 months of incarceration, not guaranteed awards. The court decides the amount, and many claims fail on the proof requirements rather than on the cap.
Federal compensation covers federal convictions. Most states have their own wrongful conviction compensation statute with different eligibility rules, award formulas and deadlines, and a few states have none at all.