NY fund for crime victims helps cover ongoing medical bills

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — New York paid $20 million last year to crime victims to help cover medical bills, counseling, damaged property and other out-of-pocket expenses, including those of a man who was paralyzed in a drive-by shooting.

David Snowden, 50, says he doesn't know how much the state has reimbursed him for uncovered expenses since he was seriously injured in the 1991 drive-by shooting in Queens in which he was not the intended target, but it's been "a lot."

Expenses include lost wages, modifications to his condominium, medical co-payments, deductibles and wheelchair replacement and repair costs.

The fund also pays funeral, relocation and emergency shelter expenses and funds a network of 223 victim assistance programs statewide that will receive almost $44 million this year to provide services like counseling, crisis intervention, advocacy and legal aid.