Bill > S00993

This bill expands the eligibility for crime victim compensation awards by modifying existing executive law to specifically address situations involving suicide following a criminal incident. The bill allows for compensation to surviving spouses of crime victims who die before or during the claims process, and adds a new provision that considers a victim who commits suicide within two years of experiencing a crime as having died directly from that crime, unless the state's victim compensation office determines the suicide was not related to the original criminal incident. The bill also instructs the compensation office to disregard the victim's potential responsibility for their own injury in such suicide cases. This change aims to provide additional support and recognition for victims who may experience severe psychological trauma following a crime, acknowledging that the emotional and mental impacts of criminal victimization can lead to tragic consequences. The modifications expand the scope of who can receive compensation and under what circumstances, potentially offering more comprehensive support to crime victims and their families.

Justice

https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S993