Racial Disparities in Victim Compensation
Families of Black homicide victims face higher denial rates for victim compensation claims, despite filing more claims, according to a Rutgers Health study.
The study, published in Race and Justice, analyzed data from nearly 60,000 homicide victim compensation claims in 18 U.S. states from 2015 to 2023.
- Researchers examined approval rates and denial reasons by race.
- Regression models controlled for factors like gender, state, and application year.
Victim compensation programs, intended to support victims' families after violent crime, often perpetuate racial inequities in access to financial assistance.
Author's summary: Racial disparities persist in victim compensation for homicide survivors.