In recognition of Crime Victims Week, April 19-23, Assemblymember Jonathan L. Bing (D-Manhattan) announced the Assembly passed a package of legislation he supported to help crime victims and their families regain control of their lives.

"Crime Victims Week is a time to reflect on the needs of victims and ways we can help them start their lives again," Bing said. "The Assembly's legislation provides much-needed support and assistance to victims and their families."

Helping victims get the assistance they need

To ensure that crime victims are informed of the assistance available to them through the state Crime Victims Board, the Assembly's legislation requires police officers and district attorneys to provide information about the CVB and its services to victims (A.1739).

"Crime victims are not always aware that the Crime Victims Board is there to help them," Bing said. "This legislation ensures that victims get information on the board as soon as possible."

The package of legislation also makes the claims process easier for victims seeking compensation from the CVB, including proposals to:

• expedite the claims process, giving priority to emergency claims (A.9943);
• provide victims whose claims are dismissed with a statement of the reasons (A.2853); and
• create an ombudsman to investigate complaints and assist victims through the claims process (A.9946).

Expanding compensation to crime victims

"Crime victims often endure financial hardships as a result of their ordeal," Bing said. "The Assembly is working to help victims and their families recover from the economic loss they may face after a crime."

The Assembly's legislation will expand benefits to crime victims by:

• removing the cap on the value of the victim's home and raising the cap on the amount a renter may reserve when determining financial resources (A.9947-A);
• raising the threshold for automatic review of claims from $1,000 to $5,000 (A.4863);
• raising the level of claims not requiring proof of financial difficulty from $5,000 to $6,000 (A.9945);
• expanding compensation to help victims who experienced an exacerbation of a pre-existing condition (A.9353-A); and
• allocating fines imposed on violators of the state antitrust laws to the CVB, putting more money into the programs that help victims recover (A.9622).

Educating professionals on the aftermath of crime

"To help victims and their families with financial and psychological hardships, it is crucial that the professionals who work directly with crime victims are trained to provide the highest quality of assistance," Bing said.

The Assembly's package of legislation will create a victims assistance education program for professionals, such as police and counselors, who serve crime victims (A.1738).

"The Assembly is working to pass legislation that helps crime victims get back to their normal lives," Bing said. "This package of legislation is an important way to give victims and their families the information and help they need to begin the recovery process."

If you or a loved one has been a victim of a crime, please contact your local Crime Victims Board at:

Adolescent Health Center
Mount Sinai Hospital
312 East 94th Street
New York, NY 10128
(212) 423-2900

Children of Bellevue, Inc.
Crime Victim Assistance Program
Treatment Services for Child Victims of Physical and Sexual Abuse
Bellevue Hospital Center
426 First Avenue
New York, NY 10016
(212) 562-4050

New York County District Attorney's Office
Witness Aid Services Unit
State Office Building
163 West 125th Street
New York, NY 10027
(212) 864-7884

New York Presbyterian Hospital
Victims/Rape Crisis Intervention Program
622 West 168 Street, HP2
Department of Social Services
New York, NY 10032
(212) 305-9060

Mount Sinai Medical Center Program (SAVI)
One Gustave Levy Place, Box 1670
New York, NY 10029
(212) 423-2140 Hotline

Children's Advocacy Center of Manhattan
333 E. 70th Street
New York, NY 10021
(212) 517-3012

NYS Crime Victims Board
55 Hanson Place, 10th Floor
Brooklyn, NY 11217
(718) 923-4325
(800) 247-8035

Barrier Free Living
Domestic Violence Program
PO Box 20799
New York, NY 10009
(212) 533-4358 Voice Hotline
(212) 305-6474 TTY Hotline