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.
Jim Jarmusch’s ‘Father Mother Sister Brother’ wins top prize at Venice Film Festival
Jim Jarmusch's quietly humorous relationship triptych won the top prize on Saturday. The film about the relationships between siblings, and with their parents, stars Adam Driver, Vicky Krieps and Cate Blanchett.
ICE arrests at a Georgia Hyundai plant create new tension with South Korea
South Korea's foreign minister is considering a trip to the U.S. to meet with the Trump administration after hundreds of South Koreans were arrested in Georgia at an electric vehicle battery plant.
Davey Johnson, who won 2 World Series with Orioles, managed Mets to title, dies at 82
Davey Johnson, an All-Star second baseman who won the World Series twice with the Baltimore Orioles as a player and managed the New York Mets to the title in 1986, died Friday.
Ken Dryden, Hall of Fame goalie for the Montreal Canadiens, dies at age 78
Dryden backstopped the NHL's most successful franchise to championships in six of his eight seasons in the league from 1970-71 to '78-79. He died after a fight with cancer.
‘Twinless’ is a dark comedy that doubles up on the twists
Dylan O'Brien and James Sweeney craft a kind of chemistry that is equal parts funny and heart-wrenching.
Russ & Daughters in NYC celebrates ‘100 years of appetizing’ and family
At Russ & Daughters, it takes three months to learn how to slice salmon. NPR's Scott Simon visits the 100 year-old appetizing store to try his hand at the fine art and talk about their new cookbook.
