concept

Hope After Harm evaluation

Facts (13)

Sources

Hope After Harm: An Evaluation of State Victim Compensation Statutes americanprogress.org Center for American Progress Aug 20, 2025 13 facts

procedureIn the 'Hope After Harm' evaluation, states receive 1 point if their statutorily defined maximum compensation limit for funeral or burial services meets or exceeds the 2023 median cost of burial with a vault, after adjusting for the cost of living.

procedureStates receive 1 point in the 'Hope After Harm' evaluation if their statutes or regulations do not mention involvement with or use of illicit drugs as a factor in the approval, denial, or reduction of victim compensation.

procedureIn the 'Hope After Harm' evaluation, states receive 0 points if their statutorily defined maximum compensation limit, after adjusting for the cost of living, never meets or exceeds the estimated average cost of harm per robbery victim in that state.

procedureIn the 'Hope After Harm' evaluation, states receive 2 points if their statutorily defined maximum compensation limit for all victims is equal to or above the cost-of-living-adjusted estimated average cost of harm per robbery victim in that state.

claimIn the 'Hope After Harm' evaluation, states receive a maximum of 2 points if their statutes allow compensation for applicants with relationships to the victim beyond shared household, legal status, or blood relation. States receive 1 point if they allow compensation for household members regardless of blood or legal relationship, but do not extend eligibility to relationships beyond the household.

procedureStates receive 1 point in the 'Hope After Harm' evaluation if they do not include provisions to deny or reduce victim compensation based on contributory conduct.

procedureIn the 'Hope After Harm' evaluation, states receive 1 point if their maximum compensation limit is equal to or above the cost-of-living-adjusted estimated average cost of harm per robbery victim, but only if the victim has suffered a 'permanent' or 'catastrophic' injury.

procedureStates receive 0 points in the 'Hope After Harm' evaluation if their statutes or regulations allow for the consideration of a victim or claimant’s involvement with or use of illicit drugs in the approval, denial, or reduction of their victim compensation award.

claimStates receive 0.5 points in the 'Hope After Harm' evaluation if they codify specific waivers to incarceration-based compensation denials under mitigating circumstances, such as the victim being a minor under the age of 18 or a victim of sexual assault or human trafficking.

claimIn the 'Hope After Harm' evaluation, states receive 0 points if their statutes allow for the denial or reduction of victim compensation based on the applicant’s or victim’s arrest or conviction history without codifying exceptions to this rule.

claimStates receive 0 points in the 'Hope After Harm' evaluation if their statutes or regulations allow for the denial or reduction of victim compensation based on the victim's incarceration status or if the harm on which the claim is based occurred while the victim was incarcerated.

procedureIn the 'Hope After Harm' evaluation, states receive 0 points if their statutorily defined maximum compensation limit for funeral or burial services is below the 2023 median cost of burial with a vault, after adjusting for the cost of living.

claimIn the 'Hope After Harm' evaluation, states receive a maximum of 2 points if their statutes do not explicitly bar currently incarcerated victims from applying for or receiving compensation, or if they include specific provisions allowing compensation for harm that occurred while the victim was incarcerated.