Attorney General Kwame Raoul has introduced new legislation, aiming to bolster the Illinois Crime Victims Compensation Program. The recently signed Senate Bill (SB) 3713, promises to increase access to crucial resources for survivors of violent crime. Collaboration between the Attorney General's office, Ascend Justice, and the Alliance for Safety and Justice was fundamental in bringing this legislation to fruition.
In his remarks on the new law, Raoul emphasized the multifaceted obstacles victims often encounter in the aftermath of violence, “Survivors of violent crime often face enormous financial and emotional barriers to recovery, in addition to the physical trauma they have experienced,” Raoul said, as stated by the Office of the Illinois Attorney General. He also expressed gratitude to Governor JB Pritzker for signing the bill, vowing to persist in advocacy for heightened victim support services.
Advocates like Aswad Thomas, vice president of the Alliance for Safety and Justice and national director of Crime Survivors for Safety and Justice, are encouraged by recent reforms aimed at improving program access for survivors, “We are encouraged by the steps that the Attorney General’s office has taken over the past few years to make the crime victims compensation program more accessible for survivors in Illinois while we continue to advocate for increased access to the program for underserved crime survivors,” Thomas said.
Senator Robert Peters and Representative Maurice A. West, II, the sponsors of SB 3713 in the Illinois legislature, highlighted the need for a law that addresses the diverse needs of crime victims and their journeys to recovery. “Each victim's journey is uniquely shaped by a multitude of factors – be it the nature of the crime, their personal circumstances or the broader impact on their lives,” Peters noted, as per the Office of the Illinois Attorney General.
For more details on the services available to crime victims or to report violations of victims' rights, the public can reach out to the Attorney General's Crime Victims Assistance Line at 1-800-228-3368, or visit the Attorney General's website.
