Victims Compensation Fund Now Available to Children
Posted on August 29, 2008
Filed Under Criminal Law, Felonies, Law, Los Angeles, News |
Minors who witness violent crimes are now eligible for help from the Victims Compensation and Government Claims Board. Passed unanimously by the California Assembly, AB 2809 now awaits the Governor’s signature. The bill expands current law to allow minors to apply for reimbursement of counseling and other related expenses.
“Sometimes it’s easy to forget that those physically affected by a violent crime aren’t always the only victims,” said Assemblyman Mark Leno who championed the bill through the Assembly. “Children who live in our tough neighborhoods and see violence every day bear the scars of what they experience and need our help to make sure the negative impacts don’t persist.”
Under current law, a person must be living with, related to, or the primary caretaker of the victim of a violent crime to qualify for aid under California’s Victims Compensation Fund. Once signed by the Governor, AB 2809 expands access to the fund to children who witness a crime, regardless of their family relationship to the victim.
Up to 35% of urban youth who are exposed to community violence exhibit symptoms of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, according to the National Center for PTSD. These symptoms can include poor grades in school, low self-esteem, aggressive outbursts, violence toward others, drug or alcohol abuse, and other self destructive behavior. Few of these children receive the medical and mental health care they need.
“We know the statistics,” said San Francisco District Attorney Kamal Harris who sponsored the bill. “Children traumatized by violence at an early age are more likely to end up falling through the cracks and becoming either victims or perpetrators of crime later in life. This bill is about being smart on crime. We’ve got to state changing the odds for our youth and giving them the help they need when they need it.”
-LegalPro
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