Washington, D.C. — The Center for American Progress and Common Justice released a new report and state-by-state scorecards exposing how restrictive state laws prevent crime survivors from accessing critical financial support and calling for the urgent reform of these statutes to help survivors rebuild their lives. The analysis is based on a first-of-its-kind “State Victim Compensation Statute Rubric,” a tool that evaluates state policies to promote access, transparency, and equity of victim compensation programs across all 50 states, Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico.
In the United States, an estimated 4 million people aged 12 and older experienced violent victimization in 2023, facing a staggering $98.3 billion in cumulative total costs. State crime victim compensation (CVC) programs, funded in part by the federal Victims of Crime Act, are designed to provide a financial lifeline for these survivors, covering expenses such as medical costs, mental health counseling, and lost wages. However, this analysis finds that these programs are often underutilized, with restrictive and harmful state laws creating unnecessary barriers that disproportionately affect marginalized communities.
The report highlights that while no single state serves as a perfect model, many have recently passed landmark legislation to address these issues. For example, California, Kentucky, Maryland, New York, and Oregon have all made significant reforms in the past three years to remove key barriers to access.
To improve the delivery of victim compensation, the report offers five key recommendations for reform:
- Increase awareness and outreach: States should proactively raise awareness about CVC programs, especially in communities that are most affected by violence.
- Streamline application processes: Make the process less burdensome by reducing the amount of required paperwork and expanding application windows.
- Reduce law enforcement’s role: Move away from eligibility models that are contingent on cooperation with law enforcement.
- Increase financial support: Increase compensation amounts and move away from the often retraumatizing reimbursement model.
- Listen to survivors: Ensure that the experiences and perspectives of survivors directly inform the administration of CVC programs.
“State victim compensation programs can be a powerful tool for healing and a critical part of a survivor’s journey to recovery,” said Kira Shepherd, vice president of organizing and policy at Common Justice. “But many programs have exclusionary legal barriers that disproportionately impact Black and brown communities who are subjected to higher rates of violence. Our research shows that while some states have taken steps forward, many still enforce policies that prevent survivors from accessing the resources they need to heal and rebuild their lives.”
“The financial burden of violent crime can be devastating, pushing survivors into bankruptcy and worsening trauma,” said Chandler Hall, associate director for Gun Violence Prevention at Center for American Progress. “This report is a wake-up call for policymakers across the country. By reforming their statutes to be more accessible and equitable, states can not only deliver on their promise to support survivors but also help break cycles of violence and make entire communities safer.”
Read the report: “Hope After Harm: An Evaluation of State Victim Compensation Statutes” by Chandler Hall and Alice Hamblett
For more information or to speak with an expert, please contact Rafael Medina at [email protected].