State bill looks to expand victim of violent crime funding eligibility

ELYRIA — A larger pool of victims of violent crimes and their families in Ohio could be eligible for compensation from the state's reparation fund. The Ohio Attorney General's office operates a fund for victims of violent crimes including rape, assault, murder, kidnapping and domestic violence, to recover financial losses and pay for medical, counseling and funeral expenses. Victims or their families can apply for up to $50,000 in reimbursement for out-of-pocket costs. Currently, victims who have felony convictions within the past 10 years are ineligible for compensation, as well as those who test positive for illicit substances on treatment of injuries or death. Senate Bill 36, introduced by Sens. Nathan Manning, R-North Ridgeville, and Steve Huffman, R-Tipp City, would eliminate that requirement, and open up the definition of a victim of a violent crime. "Simply because you were not directly harmed in a violent crime, does not mean you are not a victim who experiences deep trauma from a violent event," Manning said in a statement. "This bill will have a meaningful impact for victims who have previously been excluded, and I am proud to join my Senate colleagues in providing assistance to those who are in need of additional help in their recovery." The bill would also add two additional types of victims able to file for reparations: the immediate family member of a victim who witnessed a crime or arrived on scene immediately after, or the caregivers of a dependent who suffered a sexual assault. Lorain County Prosecutor JD Tomlinson said he supports the legislation. "It expands the definition of the term 'victim' to include persons with a criminal history," he said in a statement. "It also expands the definition of the term 'victim' to include family members of victims, in certain circumstances. And it broadens the benefits available for victims who have suffered psychological damage. All of this happens without compromising the solvency of the Victims of Crime Fund." Imam Paul Hasan, of Lorain's Interfaith ministries, agreed. Hasan has spent the past 30 years working in Lorain, Cleveland and beyond, organizing vigils, press conferences, marches and brokering peace treaties between rival groups in an effort to curb gun violence. In 2008, Hasan's great-nephew was shot and killed in Cleveland while going to visit his father. Hasan said his niece is not well to this day, and she had a terrible time getting any compensation. Hasan's older nephew was killed in Akron in 2013 and he wasn't sure if the man's mother — Hasan's sister-in-law — ever received any compensation. "Of course it's problematic," Hasan said. "They should do something to help these families and even though they have felonies, if they've done their time and if they're returned to the community and are doing positive things ... and something happens to some loved one, of course they should be compensated." Most recently, Hasan organized a news conference decrying the slaying of three Lorain residents in mid-February. On Feb. 8 police responded to a West 21st Street home, where 32-year-old Arthur McLemore had been shot multiple times. He died at Mercy Health and Tremayne Wallace, 33, of Elyria, has since been charged in connection to the shooting. Five days later, officers were called to a home on F Street, where 28-year-old Abril Mills and 29-year-old Jerhonda Edwards had been shot to death. While there have been leads in the case, no one has been charged with the women's slayings. Quoting Malcolm X, he noted "we should respect and protect our women. … The overall climate in terms of women being abused physically and mentally, it's terrible." "Any relief that they can get from the state, anyone who's lost loved ones, it should be gotten to them as soon as possible," he said. "Because I know we've had situations in Cleveland where young people have died and they didn't have any insurance at all and that's all they could depend on was what they were getting from the state and sometimes they couldn't get anything because of that." The Legislative Budget Office's fiscal analysis notes the Attorney General's Office estimated the number of applications disqualified due to the individuals' criminal history was 376 for fiscal year 2020, and 460 for fiscal year 2019. On average, an individual is awarded between $2,000 and $3,000 — meaning if an additional 600 claims per year are successful under new eligibility requirements, the state could see an additional $1.8 million in disbursements. The state's reparations fund has an annual cash balance of about $10 million, according to the report. The bill now moves to the House for consideration. Contact Carissa Woytach at (440) 329-7245 or cwoytach@chroniclet.com.