All survivors deserve equitable access to healing.

Fair Access to Victim Compensation

 

The Fair Access To Victim Compensation Campaign is a state-wide campaign, led by several local New York-based groups and national organizations who are fighting for expanded and equitable access to victim compensation funds. Currently in New York State, survivors of violence are subject to onerous law enforcement reporting requirements when filing for victim compensation funds, and barred from access if they allegedly contributed to the crime in question or failed to show physical injury associated with their harm. This denies resources to countless survivors that could be used to pay for medical bills, funeral expenses, replacement of personal property, relocation expenses, and other costs associated with the harm they experienced.

 

Our goal is to raise awareness about the victim compensation program and propose several legislative bills to eliminate any barriers to access that survivors face. The first bill of the campaign removes the requirement that survivors report their harm to police in order to be eligible for victim compensation by expanding the forms of evidence that could be used to show that a survivor suffered harm. We are calling on elected officials in New York State to support and pass the Fair Access to Victim Compensation bill S.214A (Myrie) / A.2105A (Meeks) to ensure that all survivors have access to healing.

JOIN THE FAVC CAMPAIGN

AS AN INDIVIDUAL

 

Sign-up to become a volunteer for the Fair Access To Victim Compensation campaign today, and help us make New York a state that puts healing first.

 

VOLUNTEER

 

AS AN ORGANIZATION

 

Join our growing list of coalition partners.


 

Join The Coalition

 

RESOURCES

WEBINAR

 

Shifting the Narrative on Violence: Steps We Can Take to Support Survivors & End Mass Incarceration

On Monday, January 30th we held a virtual discussion with directly impacted New Yorkers and other advocates leading campaigns for change. This event was organized and hosted by Common Justice, The Release Aging People in Prison Campaign (RAPP Campaign), and the Center for Community Alternatives (CCA). This webinar covered urgent topics relating to justice for survivors of violence and other harms, the relationship between state violence and interpersonal violence, and statewide advocacy campaigns to make our state more healthy, equitable, and fair. Watch the full recording of the webinar here:

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Press inquiries

Journalists and others seeking information about the Fair Access to Victim Compensation Campaign and should contact Common Justice's Director of Communications, Chanda Daniels at cdaniels@commonjustice.org.

FAVC REPort

Eliminating Barriers To Healing: An examination of victim compensation in New York State

In this report, we explore the importance of victim compensation to the healing of victims and survivors, the often insurmountable barriers that victims and survivors face when they attempt to collect these lifesaving funds, and the real-life experiences of victim service providers, as well as victims and survivors, who know firsthand what it means to struggle through and recover from harm.

 

READ MORE
FAVC Report - Eliminating Barriers To Healing: An examination of victim compensation in New York State

SHARE YOUR STORY

Have you faced challenges or barriers trying to access to victim compensation funds in New York?

 

We want to hear from you! Sharing your story helps to raise awareness for our mission for expanded and equitable access to victim compensation funds. We will not share your story without your expressed permission.

Raise Awareness, Share Your Story.

OUR PARTNERS

Steering Committee

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Coalition Members

Equal Justice USA (EJUSA)
Katal Center for Equity, Health, & Justice
NY State Coalition Against Domestic Violence (NYSCADV)
Rising Ground - STEPS to End Family Violence,
Neighborhood Benches
Release Aging People in Prison (RAPP)
NewHourLI

Good Call

Hands of Excellence 

Urban Resource Institute

VOCAL-NY  

Giffords 

Citizen Action of New York
Center for Community Alternatives (CCA)
Health Alliance for Violence Intervention (HAVI)
Alliance of Families
Girls for Gender Equity
Immigrant Defense Project
Black Alliance for Just Immigration (BAJI)
S.O.U.L. Sisters Leadership Collective
New Alternatives For LGBT Homeless Youth
Restorative Action Alliance

Malcolm X Commemoration Committee 

Both Sides of the Violence

Womankind

My Angel Doula Alliance

Center for Justice at Columbia University
Urban Grief
The Korean American Family Service Center
Day One
Kings Against Violence Initiative (KAVI)
Violence Intervention Program (VIPmujeres)
Sakhi for South Asian Women
Community Justice Action Fund

NYC Alliance Against Sexual Assault

Long Live Our Butterfly, Inc 
Joyful Heart Foundation 
Sanctuary for Families 

Where Do We Go From Here

Both Sides of the Violence