RICHMOND (WSLS 10) - Sterilization victims in Virginia may be closer to getting compensated. Delegate Ben Cline of Rockbridge County announced his proposal Tuesday to create the Justice for Victims of Sterilization Compensation Fund.
Between the 1920s to 1970s, the state forced people to get sterilized who were considered "unfit" to have children. This included people who were mentally ill or poor.
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The fund will provide each victim $25,000.
North Carolina passed a similar bill and gave each living victim $50,000.
It is estimated about 8,000 people in the state were sterilized but only a few are still alive today.