Commentary: Let’s reform our victim compensation program to better serve crime victims

Right now, the Arizona Criminal Justice Commission is considering changes to the state’s victims’ compensation program, a vital resource for Arizona crime victims. The program provides financial assistance to help victims pay for medical expenses, lost wages, and other costs related to the crime.

As crime survivors, we are calling on the commission to make commonsense, humane updates to the program so help reaches more crime victims and so the fund can do more to break cycles of crime in our state.

We know firsthand how current restrictions can cut crime victims off from this financial lifeline, and the commission’s efforts are a powerful opportunity to remedy that.

First, under current rules, a victim must report the crime against them within 72 hours to be considered for victims’ compensation in Arizona. For many victims, this deadline is unrealistic and prohibitive. Many victims of intimate partner abuse or sexual assault, for example, are not ready to talk about what happened to them in the immediate aftermath of the violent crime against them. Requiring victims to report within 72 hours can discourage them from seeking help at all.

Arizona is also one of just four states that also exclude victims who are behind on court fines and fees. Victims of crime often struggle financially – in fact, financial instability makes people more vulnerable to being victimized in the first place. Denying crime victims help because they owe money to the state is counterproductive. It makes it harder for victims to get back on their feet and can even lead to them becoming homeless.
The state’s victims’ compensation fund received a significant funding boost last year, and it’s time to raise caps on eligible expenses and make sure the fund covers victims’ actual costs.

Finally, commissioners can make eligibility requirements clearer and more consistent and expand coverage for family members of violent crime victims who are also affected and may need help.
We urge the Arizona Criminal Justice Commission to make these changes. Together, we can make sure the victims compensation fund can make a real difference in the lives of victims of crime, helping them to get the help they need to recover and rebuild their lives – that makes all of us safer and makes our communities healthier.

Kristy Stanford of Tempe was denied victim compensation and relied on GoFundMe and credit cards to pay for her murdered husband’s funeral expenses. Vanessa Martinez of Phoenix survived a near-fatal gunshot but was denied victim compensation for unpaid fines. Katrina Smith of Phoenix initially received victim compensation after the murder of her husband but was required to return it after receiving insurance assistance. They are members of Arizona Crime Survivors for Safety and Justice, a grassroots organization that helps members heal and advocate for public safety reforms.