E. Moos8, C. Robinson2, R. Nordgren3, M.C. Henry4, C. Romain4, K. Callier5, J. Ayemoba4, F. Bouftas6, M. Francis2, C. Galvan7, F. Cosey-Gay2, T.L. Zakrison1, C. Kvasnovsky4, P.M. Dowzicky1 1University Of Chicago, Division Of Trauma & Acute Care Surgery, Chicago, IL, USA 2University Of Chicago, Crown School Of Social Work, Policy, And Practice, Chicago, IL, USA 3University Of Chicago, Department Of Public Health Sciences, Chicago, IL, USA 4University Of Chicago, Division Of Pediatric Surgery, Chicago, IL, USA 5University Of Chicago, Department Of Surgery, Chicago, IL, USA 6University Of Chicago, Pritzker School Of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA 7Metropolitan Peace Initiatives, Chicago, ILLINOIS, USA 8University Of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
Introduction:
Trauma centers are often the first point of contact for victims of sexual assault (SA) and domestic violence (DV), with many requiring surgical or long-term follow-up care. In Illinois, Crime Victim Compensation (CVC) offers up to $45,000 to cover medical expenses, including trauma care and surgical costs, for victims of violent crimes. However, this crucial resource remains largely untapped. This study examined CVC utilization patterns in Illinois, with specific implications for trauma care.
Methods:
We analyzed Illinois CVC data (January 2012-July 2024) obtained via a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request, comparing claim types and awards between genders using descriptive statistics and the Wilcoxon rank sum test. Genders were limited to binary categorizations due to state limitations. Award rate was compared to potential cases for one representative year.
Results:
Of 46,792 CVC claims, 45.1% were for assault/battery. Female applicants filed 18.8% of claims for DV and 6.8% for SA, versus 2.3% and 0.4%, respectively, for males (p<0.001). Median SA claim awards were similar for females ($928.4) and males ($1079.4, p=0.90), potentially covering initial interventions but insufficient for complex care. SA claims took a median of 337 days (>11 months) to process, with only 21.4% completed within six months, potentially impacting access to follow-up care. In 2021, despite 2,275 publicly reported SA cases in Illinois, only 83 SA-related CVC claims were filed (3.6%), with 20 awarded (0.9%).
Conclusion:
CVC is vastly underutilized as a means of supporting victims after SA in Illinois. While not all victims access emergency care following assault, those who do should be supported as completely as possible, including financially. Given how few claims are filed and awarded following these crimes, in addition to the long delays, further analysis is needed to understand the barriers that victims of SA and DV face in accessing CVC. Gender categorization in state demographics should expand beyond binary categorization. Continued advocacy at the hospital and state levels is recommended to encourage survivors to pursue CVC. Future research should assess their impact on CVC utilization and patient outcomes in trauma settings.
References:
1. Illinois State Police. Crime in Illinois, 2021, Illinois Uniform Crime Reporting Program, 31 March 2022, https://isp.illinois.gov/StaticFiles/docs/CrimeReporting/cii/cii21/Crime%20in%20Illinois%202021.pdf
2. Morgan, Rachel and Thompson, Alexandra. Criminal Victimization, 2020, US Department of Justice Bureau of Justice Statistics, October 2021, https://bjs.ojp.gov/sites/g/files/xyckuh236/files/media/document/cv20.pdf