Victims of Crime and Leniency
Alabama Crime Victims Compensation will seek more funding from lawmakers
The Alabama Crime Victims Compensation Commission will seek $3.1 million from state lawmakers next year. Everette Johnson, executive of the ACVCC, said during the organization’s quarterly meeting Thursday that the money, more than double what the agency received from the Legislature this year, would free up funding to pay crime victims. “What I am asking […]
Alabama Crime Victims Compensation Commission seeks emergency funding
The Alabama Crime Victims Compensation Commission will request $2.2 million from the Governor’s Emergency Fund to work through a backlog of cases. Commission members Thursday voted to approve the request and hire additional staff to deal with the cases. The commission, which provides financial assistance to victims of violent crimes, will receive about $1.5 million […]
Alabama Senate may boost funding for Crime Victims’ Compensation Commission
The head of the Senate’s General Fund committee said Monday he expects more funding for the Alabama Crime Victims Compensation Commission, which has faced shortfalls and complaints from victims and families about slow response times. “The amount that the House is putting in there is not being touched, and I am trying to put some […]
Alabama crime victims wait months for aid as compensation commission struggles
Karen Nathan’s 36-year-old son was shot and killed in his apartment in Jefferson County in May 2021. The detective kept in touch to give her updates about the case and about what was transpiring. Later that year, the detective connected her with a group of people who had been victims of violent crime or had […]
Alabama Department of Corrections’ internal execution review draws criticism
Death penalty reform advocates have expressed doubt and concern over the Alabama Department of Corrections’ review of its own process. In interviews Monday, several advocates who pushed for an independent review of the state’s execution protocols questioned the short timeframe of review and the lack of transparency. Some were surprised by Gov. Kay Ivey’s announcement […]
In Alabama parole hearings, a gulf over punishment and rehabilitation
At each meeting of the Alabama Board of Pardons and Paroles, there are two sides, literally and figuratively. On the right side of the room sit advocates for those who are incarcerated. Each one has two minutes to put on the performance of a lifetime, to convince Board members to release their friends or family […]