Frank Zubia said during a gathering in Carlsbad that survivors of violent crime can get up to $50,000 in compensation in the wake of a tragedy.
He’s the director of New Mexico Crime Victim Reparation Commission (CVRC) and said the agency works to connect those impacted by violent crimes like sexual assault, domestic violence or murder with the resources they need.
Zubia presented the Commission’s available services and discussed how survivors can apply during a meeting Sept. 5 at the Eddy County Sheriff’s Office in Carlsbad, via a collaboration with the Sheriff’s Office and local mental health provider Carlsbad Lifehouse.
“This is important. A lot of the people that we work with and a lot of the problems we deal with are because people have had some kind of traumatic event and often it’s the result of crime,” said Lifehouse Executive Director Phil Huston. “When people have experienced trauma, we can get them what they need so they can be productive members of society and not carry that trauma with them.”
Eddy County Sheriff’s Chief 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 the needs of those impacted after the perpetrators are brought to justice.
“This allows us to provide services law enforcement aren’t always privy to,” Hutchinson said. “We don’t understand the trauma they (survivors) go through. We really felt that we were missing that here and as an organization. We want people to know what’s available to them.” The CVRC program provides a cap of $20,000 in reparations through 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 expenses for anything prescribed by a medical professional, often needs that go unaddressed by insurance providers. The CVRC also takes 15% of a defendant’s wages earned while incarcerated to help support families and victims affected by violent crime.
“We know that personal insurance is not always going to pay all expenses,” Zubia said. “So we have to step in. We pay what your insurance does not.”
To apply for the CVRC’s services, survivors must first submit a compensation application. The crime must have occurred in New Mexico, and be reported to a licenses medical provider or law enforcement personnel.
Applicants must cooperate with law enforcement investigating the crime, Zubia said, and the crime must have occurred within 2 years of the application or show “good cause.” The good-cause provision was recently added, he said, after the commission found many survivors wait until a case has moved through the court system before applying.
“The criminal justice system is not broken, it’s slow,” Zubia said. “We are finding a lot of our victims, after the case went to trial or was plead out, that’s when they want to access our services.”
Here’s what crimes are covered by the CVRC and eligible for compensation.
• Murder
• Child abuse
• Aggravated indecent exposure
• Arson or aggravated arson
• Aggravated battery and assault
• Battery
• Criminal sexual penetration of adults or minors
• Criminal sexual contact with a minor
• Stalking
• Kidnapping
• Negligent use of a deadly weapon
• Voluntary manslaughter
• Homicide or great bodily harm with a vehicle.