Survivors of violent crimes are entitled to compensation in New Mexico | Crime

During a rally in Carlsbad, Frank Zubia said survivors of violent crimes can receive up to $50,000 in compensation after a tragedy.

He is director of the New Mexico Crime Victim Reparation Commission (CVRC) and said the agency works to provide the resources needed to victims of violent crimes such as sexual abuse, domestic violence or murder.

Zubia presented the commission's available services and discussed how survivors can apply during a Sept. 5 meeting at the Eddy County Sheriff's Office in Carlsbad. The support is provided through a collaboration between the sheriff's office and local mental health provider Carlsbad Lifehouse.

“This is important. Many of the people we work with and many of the issues we deal with are because they have had traumatic experiences, and often those are the result of a crime,” said Phil Huston, Lifehouse's executive director. “When people have had traumatic experiences, we can give them what they need so they can be productive members of society and not carry that trauma with them.”

Eddy County Sheriff's Deputy Matt Hutchinson said the training and services offered by the CVRC can help law enforcement bridge the gap between investigating and prosecuting crimes and meet the needs of those affected after offenders are brought to justice.

“It allows us to provide services that aren't always available to law enforcement,” Hutchinson said. “We don't understand the trauma that they (the survivors) go through. We really felt like we were lacking that here and as an organization. We want people to know what's available to them.” The CVRC program provides up to $20,000 in compensation from state funds for survivors of violent crimes, Zubia said, along with another $30,000 if a crime is deemed “catastrophic.” He said the money can be provided to cover the cost of anything prescribed by a doctor, which is often not covered by insurance carriers. The CVRC also keeps 15% of the wages a defendant earned while incarcerated to support families and victims of violent crimes.

“We know that private insurance doesn't always cover all costs,” said Zubia. “So we have to step in. We pay what your insurance doesn't cover.”

To receive CVRC services, survivors must first file a claim for compensation. The crime must have occurred in New Mexico and been reported to a licensed medical provider or law enforcement officer.

Applicants must cooperate with law enforcement agencies investigating the crime, Zubia said, and the crime must have occurred within two years of the application or there must be “good cause” for it. The provision that good cause must be present was added recently, he said, after the commission found that many survivors wait to apply until a case has gone through the court system.

“The criminal justice system is not broken, it's slow,” Zubia said. “We find that many of our victims do not seek our services until after the trial or after the plea bargain.”

Here you can find out which crimes are covered by the CVRC and for which compensation is possible.

• Murder

• Child abuse

• Serious public nuisance

• Arson or serious arson

• Serious bodily harm

• Battery

• Criminal sexual penetration of adults or minors

• Criminal sexual contact with minors

• Stalking

• Kidnapping

• Negligent use of a deadly weapon

• Homicide

• Killing or causing serious bodily harm with a vehicle.