RALEIGH (AP) — North Carolina officials have mailed paperwork to 800 people who have previously identified themselves as victims of the state’s forced sterilization so they can verify their eligibility for one-time payments from a $10 million compensation fund.
Each verified victim of the state-sponsored eugenics program ended in the 1970s will split an equal share of the money. Additional copies of the forms are available at www.sterilizationvictims.nc.gov .
A group established to help the victims estimated last year that up to 1,800 victims are still alive, though the identities of only 168 have been verified so far with available records.
A state advisory board recommended one-time payments of $50,000 each. But if 1,000 victims are eventually verified, the $10 million allotted by lawmakers earlier this year will cover payments of only $10,000 each.