A new year means new laws, but one that will not take effect until the end of 2025 is the Fair Access to Compensation Act, which expands eligibility for victims and survivors of crime to access victim compensation funds.

The Office of Victim Services, which has streamlined the application process for victims to get compensation and access to services, pays for things like funeral costs, counseling bills and lost wages.

OVS distributed $14.6 million to victims and survivors across New York state during the 2022-23 fiscal year. It is the only state in the country that does not put a cap on medical or counseling expenses.

“Our office has a three-part mission,” said Dr. Elizabeth Cronin, director of the Office of Victim Services. “We provide financial compensation to victims of crime. We fund our 239 victim assistance advocates and service providers throughout the state of New York. And we also advocate on behalf of the victims.” 

While OVS handles victim compensation, their partner organizations help with access to counseling and community services.

“So we meet the individuals at the emergency room or wherever they might be in the hospital to provide them bedside support, linkage to other support including victims' compensation,” said Paula Kovanic Spiro, director of Buffalo Rising Against Violence (BRAVE) at Erie County Medical Center and site administrator at Should Never Use Guns (SNUG).

Both Cronin and Kovanic Spiro said these changes will expedite compensation and access to services free of charge to the individual. The Office of Victim Services is both federally funded and funded by fees, fines and surcharges incurred by those who are incarcerated.

“This is a crisis now,” said Kovanic Spiro. “So how do we fill that need in a more expedient way? And I think taking down those barriers is going to be very helpful.” 

Due to the extensive administrative and software changes this legislation requires, the law will not take effect until Dec. 31, 2025.