1/ New with @marshallproj and @USAToday: In several states, crime victims can seek compensation from a public fund. But states reserve the right to deny some requests. And in Ohio and Florida, black people were banned disproportionately. revealnews.org/article/the-vi…
2/ Here’s how it works. “Victim compensation funds,” as they’re called, are designed to help crime victims pay for things like loved ones’ funerals.
But in some states, you can’t get access to the money if you have a criminal conviction.
But in some states, you can’t get access to the money if you have a criminal conviction.
3/ In Ohio, where the rules are particularly stringent, you can be denied for even being *suspected* of one. And unlike in other states, a denial can stem from a juvenile crime. Those records are usually expunged.
4/ That’s what happened to Antonio Mason. In 2014, he was studying to be a gym teacher. A drunk driver rammed his car, paralyzing him from the waist down. 
5/ Mason applied to the state victim compensation fund, hoping to make his house and car wheelchair accessible.
He was turned down because he’d been convicted of drug trafficking at 16.
He was turned down because he’d been convicted of drug trafficking at 16.
6/ Something similar happened to Florida resident Anthony Campbell. After his father was murdered in 2015, he struggled to come up with $10,000 for the funeral and burial. He applied for victim compensation funds.
7/ The state’s answer: No. Campbell’s father had been convicted of burglary.
In 1983.
A local city commission called him a “prominent citizen.” His son had never committed a crime.
None of that mattered.
In 1983.
A local city commission called him a “prominent citizen.” His son had never committed a crime.
None of that mattered.
8/ Antonio Mason and Anthony Campbell have something else in common: They’re black. According to our analysis, victim compensation money is denied to black people at disproportionate rates in Florida and Ohio.
9/ In Florida: About 30 percent of people who listed their race when applying for victim compensation in 2015 and 2016 were black. But black applicants made up 61 percent of people denied aid for having a criminal record.
10/ In Ohio: 42 percent of victims who applied for reimbursement in 2016 and listed their race were black. But 61 percent of people turned down for having a record were black.
11/ @marshallproj’s @alysiasanto brought these numbers to Matt Kanai, who works for the Ohio Attorney General’s office.
His response:
His response:
12/ To listen to this story, check out our latest episode: revealnews.org/episodes/the-m…
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