Letter Comes as Families Struggle to Access Resources Under DOJ’s Crime Victims Fund
Washington (December 18, 2024) – Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) and Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (MA-07), today sent a letter to the Department of Justice (DOJ) Office for Victims of Crime urging it to ensure resources and supports are made available to people impacted by police brutality. The lawmakers’ letter comes as families struggle to access resources under the DOJ’s Crime Victims Fund.
Police brutality remains a persistent problem in the United States. Annually, more than 1,100 people are killed by police and thousands more are injured. Black people, in particular, are 2.5 times more likely to be murdered by police compared to their white counterparts. This issue was the central focus of the 2020 global racial justice movement that led to the largest protests in the history of the United States.
“Numerous victims and families have alerted us to the challenges they face in securing assistance after enduring abuse at the hands of law enforcement,” the lawmakers wrote in their letter to Acting Assistant Attorney General Brent Cohen. “This issue impacts individuals at the local, state, and federal levels and requires your immediate attention.”
“Although the news headlines may have faded, the pain experienced by victims’ families and communities remains,” the lawmakers continued. “Survivors of police violence and their families deserve and require tailored support from the Office for Victims of Crime. It is incumbent upon your agency to ensure that victims of all crimes, including those affected by excessive use of force, have the resources needed to set them on a pathway to healing.”
In their letter, the lawmakers cited some of the barriers in the administration of the Crime Victims Fund that impede access to available resources, including some jurisdictions requiring victims of police misconduct to cooperate with and request aid from the same law enforcement department responsible for their harm. The lawmakers also noted how victims are often unaware of when or how to access assistance, including counseling and support services.
Senator Markey and Congresswoman Pressley urged Acting Assistant Attorney General Cohen to promptly issue public guidance to all federal, state, and local administrators of the Crime Victims Fund that clarifies and improves access to supports and resources for individuals and families hurt by police brutality.
A copy of the letter can be found here.
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