As conversations around public safety and criminal justice reform continue to evolve, one issue often overlooked is the financial toll of getting it wrong. Wrongful convictions aren’t just moral and legal failures—they’re enormously expensive. From incarceration and retrials to settlements and rising insurance premiums for municipalities, the expenses add up quickly. In the end, the exonerated individuals pay the biggest price for wrongful convictions. But the taxpayers have to foot the massive bills for the missteps.
Wrongful Conviction Problems in Illinois
With over $500 million paid in wrongful conviction settlements, the state of Illinois has become a national example of what happens when systemic issues go unaddressed. Civil rights attorney Andrew M. Stroth, founder of the Truth, Hope and Justice Initiative, puts it plainly:
“Chicago is the wrongful conviction capitol of America, and our data analysis highlights the disproportionate impact these cases have in Black communities and the staggering costs to taxpayers,” he said.
The findings from the Wrongful Convictions Litigation Database: Chicago shed light on more than 300 civil rights lawsuits filed under Section 1983 by wrongfully convicted individuals. The report is a collaboration between several justice reform organizations, and it details how the racial inequities have crushing financial consequences for the city and state.
These long, costly legal battles retraumatize the people the justice system failed—and many of them are Black or Hispanic. Alexa Van Brunt, Illinois Director of the MacArthur Justice Center, has seen firsthand how devastating these cases can be.
“Time and again, Chicago police arrested and coerced confessions from teenagers who were alone, didn’t understand their rights, and were uniquely susceptible to coercion,” she said.
Preventing wrongful convictions isn’t just ethical—it’s also more economical. The cost to litigate can easily top $100,000 and taxpayers bear the burden. Taking a proactive, data-informed approach could help states like Illinois avoid repeating the same costly errors. The goals is to protect both the public and the people the system is meant to serve.
Addressing the Problem Head-On with Interrogation Recordings
The fact of the matter is that reducing risks reduces costs. Preventable mistakes cost the public dearly, and the impacts for the individuals involved are devastating. Illinois has recorded 135 known exonerations tied to false confessions. This accounts for nearly 30% of the national total.
To confront this crisis, lawmakers introduced House Bill 3521 in 2025. The proposed legislation would require judges to evaluate the reliability of any custodial confession before it is admitted as evidence in court. Earlier legislation with Senate Bill 15 mandated the electronic recording of custodial interrogations in homicide cases. But this takes things a set further by preventing false or unreliable recorded confessions during the pretrial phase.
This bill aims to prevent wrongful convictions before they result in incarceration, lawsuits, or settlements. It reflects a growing trend among states to see criminal justice reform not only as a moral imperative but also as a fiscally responsible strategy. Strong evidence leads to better outcomes. To get there, though, we need recorded interrogations for all types of cases. That way they can all be reviewed for reliability.
Avoid the Costs and Protect the Innocent—with iRecord Solutions for Law Enforcement
To truly safeguard against wrongful convictions, law enforcement agencies need the right tools to ensure transparency and accountability at every stage of an investigation. Legislative reform is only part of the solution. Agencies can take action on their own.
What’s more, mandating recordings should extend beyond confessions. Full-spectrum recording—including witness interviews, victim statements, and non-custodial interactions—helps law enforcement build stronger cases. More than that, it allows courts to make better-informed decisions.
Recordings serve as an unbiased, reviewable record of what was said, how it was said, and whether the process upheld a person’s rights. That’s where iRecord comes in. Our technology provides law enforcement with secure, easy-to-use solutions for capturing every critical moment. We’re leading the way for reliability and cost effectiveness for agencies worldwide. Investing in recording solutions today means fewer wrongful convictions tomorrow. We can help you stay compliant as we serve and protect those who protect and serve.