Crime victims to receive faster compensation

People who have been affected by a crime will not have to wait any longer than three months to receive compensation if the justice minister’s proposal passes

Financial compensation may soon come faster for victims of crime if a proposal by Justice Minister Morten Bødskov (Socialdemokraterne) is accepted by parliament.

If passed, the proposal will grant the state's compensation committee increased power, allowing it to make quicker decisions as to whom should be granted financial assistance to help cope with the aftermath of a crime.

“Victims of violence, abuse or other forms of criminality should not face financial uncertainty because of excessive bureaucracy,” Bødskov wrote in a press release. “These victims go through enough turmoil as it is, and that’s why, as a society, it is our responsibility that they get the best help and support available.”

Last year, the average wait for compensation was 89 days. This latest initiative will aim to cut that average waiting time to a maximum of 60 days by allowing the compensation committee to decide whether the grounds for financial support are valid before a case has been completely assessed. The process will allow victims to get at least a portion of their compensation much faster, as they will not have to wait for their cases to be fully investigated before receiving financial aid.

For far-left party Enhedslisten, which helped draft the proposal, the change in law is a long time coming.

“We’ve all heard the stories of victims who have waited far too long to receive compensation,” Pernille Skipper, a spokesperson for Enhedslisten, said. “This is completely unacceptable, as that money is needed to rebuild lives. That’s why I’m pleased that we, with the government, have managed to put this proposal forward in a bid to get the necessary funds to affected individuals as quickly as possible.”

This proposal is the latest development in a October 2011 governmental initiative to help victims of crime cope with the aftermath of violence and abuse.

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