Louisiana survivors of violence champion legislation for increased access in victim reparations
Survivors at Louisiana Survivors for Reform, Lobby Day at the Louisiana State Capitol.
BATON ROUGE, LA - Survivors of harm from all across Louisiana just championed the passage of HB 648, a bill that will allow for increased safety and security in the aftermath of violence. Louisiana now joins New Mexico and Illinois as the third state in the country to increase support for survivors by adding new reporting options to their Crime Victims’ Reparations Funds (CVRF).
At present, survivors face severe barriers when attempting to seek financial support that would cover costs related to the crime they experienced, including but not limited to: medical costs, funeral and bereavement costs, and transportation and housing costs. They must report what happened within 72 hours and fill out a complex application for funds on a relatively short timeline. These requirements are more strict than the Federal Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) requirements. With about 60% of crime survivors across the nation choosing not to report to law enforcement, a lack of reporting excludes many survivors from accessing these vital resources.
Louisiana Survivors for Reform and Crime Survivors NOLA at the Louisiana Legislature
Thanks to the hard work of Louisiana Survivors for Reform (LSR) as well as Rep. Stephanie Hilferty (R - District 94), who championed the bill, this new law will provide additional reporting options beyond a police report. In turn, more survivors will have access to life-saving financial support in their time of need. It will also increase the amount of funds a survivor can receive and add relocation services as a reimbursable cost.
“When recovering from violence, Louisiana families incur thousands of dollars in direct costs and thousands more in indirect costs,” says Hilferty. “I am happy to help them ease the financial burden, and am proud of my colleagues for standing alongside me.”
After listening to powerful testimony from survivors and victims’ loved ones, legislators unanimously voted in favor of the bill at every step.
“This win is proof that when survivors stand up for what we need together, we thrive together,” says Katie Hunter-Lowrey, Crime Survivor Organizer with the Promise of Justice Initiative. “Now more people seeking vital resources to help them heal from some of the worst things that have ever happened to them will be able to do so with greater ease. It’s a major leap forward on the road to becoming not only a state–but also a nation–that supports true public safety.”
Advocates for survivors also spoke and were instrumental in the passage of this legislation.
“It was a pleasure to work with LSR on this important legislation,” says Amanda Tonkovich, Clinical Social Worker & Chair of CVRF Board. “When the state assists with the financial burden of crime, it allows survivors and their loved ones to access support, services and healing without the fear of incurring debt and having a constant reminder of their trauma each time they receive a bill.”
Survivors of crime and harm, victims’ loved ones, and their allies at the Louisiana State Legislature for 2022 Survivor Lobby Day
LSR has also been working alongside peer organizations in other states to build a national network of crime survivors fighting for similar legislation.
“This is a hard-fought victory for Louisiana crime survivors and those striving to end cycles of trauma throughout the state,” says Aswad Thomas, vice president of the Alliance for Safety and Justice and national director for Crime Survivors for Safety and Justice. “HB 648 provides critical support to those struggling to recover after experiencing violence. This bill will help lift up survivors and communities who are most impacted by violence, making our communities safer along the way. We look forward to the governor’s support and to continuing to work on making Louisiana safer for all.”
Members of LSR will continue to organize for survivors’ rights, inform the public of the changes to the fund, and encourage survivors and their families to apply for financial assistance.
Key staff related to these efforts are available for questions or comments upon request.
Contact Information:
Katie Hunter-Lowrey (she/her, they/them)
Crime Survivor Organizer, The Promise of Justice Initiative
khunterlowrey@defendla.org, 504-535-4912
About Louisiana Survivors for Reform
Louisiana Survivors for Reform (LSR) is a coalition of survivors of interpersonal and systemic violence, homicide victims’ families, and organizations creating change in the criminal justice system. We are a group with a multitude of identities, and backgrounds united in the conviction that any approach to reform needs to include the voices of those directly impacted by the current system. We believe the voice of every survivor should be heard and that the primary focus of reform should be supporting all impacted individuals and communities, investment in crime prevention strategies, and restorative justice that is trauma-informed.