A new bill aims to help victims of violent crime in D.C. both financially and emotionally.
The Expanding Supports for Crime Victims Amendment Act of 2021 would expand eligibility for victim compensation, create new 鈥渃rime victim advocates鈥� for certain serious crimes and strengthen the District鈥檚 hospital-based violence intervention programs, according to a news release.
Council Member Charles Allen, who represents Ward 6 鈥� which encompasses Capitol Hill and the surrounding neighborhoods 鈥� .
Allen chairs the Committee on the Judiciary and Public Safety for the D.C. Council.
“Hospital-based interventions are an effective part of the District鈥檚 violence interruption work, engaging with victims at the hospital with serious injuries like gunshot or stabbing wounds where a retaliatory act is far more likely without intervention,” the release said.
鈥淐rime victims need safety and healing to move forward,鈥� Allen said. 鈥淭hat doesn鈥檛 happen automatically in our criminal justice system. This is an opportunity to take more of a public health approach to supporting victims, and it will help us reduce gun violence, by treating trauma and violence like a contagious disease and aggressively stopping its spread. In the midst of the pandemic, when the District is experiencing an increase in homicides and gun violence, the axiom 鈥楬urt people hurt people鈥� rings all too true.鈥�
Allen’s bill recommends expanding D.C. Superior Court鈥檚 for “the number of offenses for which victims and their families can apply, including for elder abuse and destruction of property by intimate partners or due to gunshots.”
The bill would also cover some mental health and counseling.
New 鈥渃rime victim advocates鈥� would be created under the bill as well “to help victims understand their options and resources in a time of crisis.”
“The District has similar counselors in the sexual assault, human trafficking, and domestic violence contexts,” the release said. “This position would serve victims of serious crimes like attempted murder, assault with intent to kill or commit sexual abuse, aggravated assault and assault with a dangerous weapon. Any confidential information shared by the victim with their advocate would be strictly protected.”
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