Rep. Sykes Introduces Legislation to Strengthen Support for Crime Survivors
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, during National Crime Victims’ Rights Week, U.S. Representatives Emilia Sykes (OH-13) and Lateefah Simon (D-CA-12) introduced the Crime Survivor Support and Stability Act. This bill would strengthen the federal response to violent crime by affirming survivors’ rights, funding community-based assistance, and improving how we measure survivors’ needs via supplemental state-level surveys.
According to the Bureau of Justice Statistics, approximately 6.4 million violent victimizations occurred in 2023 alone. These incidents carry an estimated economic cost of billions of dollars annually in medical expenses, lost wages, and related burdens. This financial toll falls hardest on survivors with the fewest resources, who are also the least likely to access existing support systems. Additionally, people who were victims of violence in the past ten years are 3.6 times as likely to declare bankruptcy. Yet, in the immediate aftermath of victimization, survivors and their families too often struggle to access the resources they need to heal.
“Too many survivors are forced to navigate not only the trauma of violence, but also the financial and legal barriers that follow,” said Rep. Sykes. “This legislation helps ensure survivors can access immediate financial support, keep their housing and jobs, and get the services they need to rebuild their lives. It’s about meeting people where they are and giving them a real path to stability and healing.”
“Trauma left untreated can leave survivors vulnerable to further victimization. Breaking cycles of violence starts with supporting those directly impacted, which is why I am proud to introduce this bill and start to change the way our government supports and sees survivors,” said Rep. Simon. “I have worked directly with young women who survived violent crime and seen firsthand how immediate, accessible assistance, whether for transportation, medical care, or funeral expenses, means the difference between further vulnerability and true healing. This legislation will ensure survivors receive quick and direct support from trusted community-based organizations.”
The Crime Survivor Support and Stability Act centers the healing of crime survivors by:
- Affirming that states should review and revise laws to ensure survivors adequately receive the support they need, and by enumerating survivors’ rights.
- Establishing a grant program within the Department of Justice’s Office for Victims of Crime to support community-based organizations in providing direct cash assistance to survivors of violence and/or their affected family members.
- Creating a pilot program at the Bureau of Justice Statistics to conduct annual state-level victim-needs surveys, building the evidence base for future investments.
This bill is endorsed by: Just Safe, Californians for Safety and Justice, Alliance for Safety and Justice, Youth Alive, Communities United for Restorative Youth Justice (CURYJ), Legal Services for Prisoners with Children, Urban Peace Movement, Crime Survivors Speak, Shared Safety.
“No one plans to become a victim of crime. Often survivors of crime, including those who have lost loved ones to violence, lack the resources to bury a family member, pay extensive medical bills or are unable to get the time off work to recover from victimization,” said Shakyra Diaz, Chief of Federal Advocacy for Just Safe. “Access to flexible cash assistance can quickly solve this problem and help survivors heal.”
“By investing in direct support and community-led solutions, this bill affirms that safety is built through care, not punishment, and that survivors deserve pathways to healing outside the criminal legal system,” said J. Vasquez, Policy Director at Communities United for Restorative Youth Justice (CURYJ).