"Its' Just Trauma on Top of Trauma.. Barriers to Recovery and Sources of Support for Crime Survivors in the Aftermath of Violence and Victimization: A Qualitative Study on Using Crime Victim Compensation for Structural Reparations"

Background: The Illinois Crime Victims Compensation (CVC) program, administered by the Attorney’s General Office, offers financial assistance to crime survivors and families for costs incurred due to victimization (i.e., lost wages, relocation assistance, and therapy). While survivors and their families can be reimbursed up to $45,000 for expenses associated with their injury, many Illinois residents do not apply for crime victim compensation due to a lack of knowledge about the program or hurdles during the application process. Individuals who do apply for crime victim compensation are often met with administrative barriers and extraneous burdens. Despite the possibilities CVC could demonstrate to help survivors address a myriad of economic and mental health barriers they face upon discharge from the hospital, only 6% of victims of crime receive minimal compensation. Community resources and external sources of support are often used to assist survivors and their families as an attempt to supplement crime victim compensation. The purpose of this study is to elevate the need for CVC as a form of reparations, given the government’s failure to equitably protect its citizens from firearm violence.

Methods: Our research focuses on culturally vibrant and diverse communities on the South Side of Chicago, with significant ties to African-American and Latinx heritage and history. However, generations of structural racism and disinvestment have contributed to the erosion of the social, economic, and health-promoting infrastructure necessary to adequately meet these communities’ needs. We began our research by conducting a novel expert listening exercise with key stakeholders in the field of CVC. The listening exercise informed how we structured the second phase of our study. Next, we interviewed advocates and crime survivors. Interviews were conducted via Zoom (recorded and analyzed for recurrent themes using Constructivist Grounded Theory approach) or in-person (recorded via note-taking). Participants were identified using a snowballing-sampling technique. 24 qualitative interviews were conducted with 14 victim advocates (seven community-based violence interventionists, six hospital-based violence interventionists) and nine survivors of violent crime.

Results: Emergent interview themes include feelings of anger, distrust, and hopelessness regarding the lack of efficiency in the compensation process and the lack of a trauma-informed process during a survivor's most vulnerable moments. Applicants' stories include an assumption of guilt and experiencing administrative barriers that are re-traumatizing, such as having to detail and continue to tell their story of trauma to be seen as a worthy victim. Participant stories emboldened our aim to understand the barriers advocates and survivors face, the source of the support they utilize within their own communities, and how highlighting these obstacles and strengths can leverage change. Removing barriers to economic entitlement is vital to make CVC more accessible to survivors and families from disinvested communities to promote healing and prevent re-injury.

Conclusions and Implications: Recommendations include strategies to reduce time, improve transparency, and expedite compensation to acknowledge and redress structural root causes of violence that account for the current black-white wealth gap as genuine recovery and healing strategies.