Crime victims come together to raise awareness of resources
Alabama, like all states, has a program to compensate victims of violence. But very few survivors take advantage of such programs.
Sheree Kennon is hosting an event Friday evening trying to change that.
In 2021, Kennon lost her son to gun violence. Now, she is an advocate for survivors and their families across Alabama.
“I wasn’t able to get those services because I didn’t know about them,” Kennon said.
The Alliance for Safety and Justice, an advocacy organization for safety and justice reform, is co-hosting the event with Keenon. The alliance reports that only 4% of violent crime survivors know about victim compensation programs.
Aswad Thomas, organization vice president, said Alabama’s compensation system can cover things like funeral expenses and mental health care. But even victims who do know about the program sometimes don’t get access to state support.
“The majority of crime victims that have applied for the program have been denied access to the program because of some of the policy barriers that exist,” Thomas said.
Thomas said these barriers include a requirement to submit a police report within 72 hours of the crime and apply for support within one year. Kennon says when she finally heard about victim compensation programs, the deadline to apply in her case had expired. She hopes people attending the event can avoid that by learning more about the process and getting assistance with their applications.
The event is being held at 1200 Tuscaloosa Avenue in Birmingham at 6 p.m.
George Foreman, the fearsome heavyweight who became a beloved champion, dies at 76
The heavyweight who lost the "Rumble in the Jungle" to Muhammad Ali before authoring an inspiring second act as a 45-year-old champion and a successful businessman was 76.
Voice of America staff sue Trump administration for shutting down network
Six Voice of America journalists and a director at its parent agency have sued the Trump administration, alleging its moves to shut down the U.S.-funded network are unconstitutional.
Homeland Security makes cuts to civil rights and immigration oversight offices
DHS confirms it is implementing a reduction in force in three oversight offices as part of the effort to cut the federal workforce.
What’s the ideal age to reach a life milestone? Many Americans say it depends
Owning a home, starting a family or retiring: If these are things you want, what's the best age to do them? The Pew Research Center surveyed 3,600 U.S. adults to find out.
What we know about the case of detained Georgetown professor Badar Khan Suri
The Indian national and postdoctoral fellow is the latest scholar detained or deported by the Trump administration for speaking in support of Palestinian rights or criticizing Israel's actions in Gaza.
Screens and sleep. Maybe not so bad?
We hear a lot about how screens impact our sleep, but how significant is the disruption? And how much does exercise predict sleep quality? This story first appeared in the Body Electric newsletter.
