TBA Law Blog


Posted by: Stacey Shrader Joslin on Aug 13, 2024

Rafiah Muhammad-McCormick, community-outreach coordinator for Tennesseans for Alternatives to the Death Penalty, knows first-hand the many challenges victims of crime and their families face. Her son was shot and killed in her backyard. She later applied for victim reimbursement from the state’s Criminal Injuries Compensation program, which she found to be confusing, discouraging and intimidating, the Daily Memphian reports. Muhammad-McCormick successfully advocated for improvements to the fund this past legislative session, including extending the time frame for reporting a crime, and expanding the list of family members eligible for reimbursement and free mental health services. Muhammad-McCormick also works to expand general awareness about the fund. An upcoming event planned for Aug. 17 in Memphis will provide one such opportunity,. “Healed People Heal People” will take place at Centenary United Methodist Church, 584 E. McLemore Ave., Memphis 38106.