In honor of National Crime Victims’ Rights Week, Common Justice’s recent webinar, “Beyond the Perfect Victim: Rethinking Justice for Survivors,” addressed the urgent need to rethink the way justice is applied to survivors of violence and loss, particularly those impacted by contributory conduct policies. These policies often deny survivors of violence the compensation they deserve by assuming they played a role in their own harm. These assumptions, which are influenced by deep-rooted biases around race, gender, and class, not only mischaracterize survivors but also perpetuate systemic injustice. 

The panel discussion moderated by Dr. Candacé King, which featured Shneaqua “Coco” Purvis, founder of Both Sides of the Violence, Jeremy Levine, Associate Professor of Organizational Studies and Sociology at the University of Michigan, and Lisa W. Good, Executive Director of Urban Grief, unpacked the harmful impact of contributory conduct on victims and survivors of violence.  

During the webinar, Purvis and Good discussed the emotional and financial toll on families who have already experienced profound loss. Purvis shared the story of two teens killed in a shooting, whose families were denied victim compensation because police claimed they were in a gang. “This is something I was told, not proven,” she explained. After working with the families, she was able to help them secure the compensation they deserved. However, what troubled her most was discovering their names were listed in a police database, a situation she worked with Legal Aid to rectify. 

Building on these challenges, Levine, shared alarming data showing that between 2017 and 2023, about 2.6% of claims across the U.S. were denied due to contributory conduct, but this varied widely by state. In Arkansas, nearly 9% of claims were denied, while New York and New Jersey saw rates under 0.5%. Even more troubling, Levine highlighted those Black men in New York make up 14% of claims but 47% of denials. For families of homicide victims, contributory conduct is often the leading reason for denial, deepening their grief with additional injustice. 

Levine reflected on how these systemic barriers hurt survivors. “We have a long history in this country of trying to legislate bright boundaries between worthiness and deservingness… but time and time again, we see that these boundaries aren’t really bright, they’re fuzzy,” he said. He emphasized that these rigid definitions of “deserving” help often perpetuate inequality, especially along race and gender lines. His vision of justice focuses on removing these barriers, aiming for a system where many people can access support. 

Expanding on the emotional strain families face in navigating these unjust systems, Good discussed the emotional strain families face while navigating the victim compensation process. She explained that the first step is typically a call to law enforcement, and the approval of the application depends on their response, which can vary greatly.  

Good highlighted how these early conversations often lead to denials based on assumptions about the victim’s role in their own harm. Many families are too overwhelmed by grief to file appeals or sometimes choose not to apply altogether. “Sometimes it’s just too much for them to bear,” she shared. Despite this, Good and her team continue to advocate for families, stressing, “we try not to leave the money on the table,” because these families, already dealing with the pain of loss, deserve access to the resources they need to heal. 

The stories shared during the webinar made it clear: justice cannot be one-size-fits-all, and it certainly shouldn’t be defined by systems that fail those most impacted by violence. As Purvis stated, “justice to me is preventing it altogether.”  

Watch the full discussion on Common Justice’s YouTube channel and act by signing the petition. 

Abeeha Tahir