Victims of crime push for better support in California

Over 200 people who survived violent crimes or lost loved ones are heading to California’s state capitol this week. They’ve traveled from cities like San Diego and Los Angeles to demand faster, fairer financial help. Right now, the system makes it tough to get support even when someone clearly needs it. One survivor, Bridgett Montoya, shared her story after being shot while walking in Southern California. She spent nearly a month in the hospital and a week in a coma. The state does offer money for medical bills and therapy, but her application was denied. "A lot of us don’t get help and end up struggling, " she said. Now, she’s speaking out to change the rules so others don’t face the same roadblocks.

Experts say the approval process is too slow and strict. Only about a third of applicants actually receive aid. That means thousands of people who desperately need money for recovery get turned down every year. Last year, nearly $45 million in available funds went unspent because of red tape and missing paperwork. Many victims can’t wait months for help—they need it right away. The fight isn’t just about money. It’s about dignity. Survivors like Montoya say the system should trust victims when they say a crime happened instead of rejecting claims over technicalities. Others point out that the funding comes from criminals paying restitution, so unspent money could be helping more people. On Tuesday, advocates will march from Sacramento’s Fremont Park to the capitol steps at 9 a. m. Their goal? To push lawmakers to simplify the process and approve claims more quickly. Even if some have given up on personal help, they’re still fighting for a system that works better for everyone.

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