NCJ Number
165185
Date Published
1980
Length
28 pages
Annotation
Victim compensation is examined with respect to its rationale, benefits, current status, support, costs, central features, relationship to other victim services, and implementation issues.
Abstract
States have established victim compensation in recognition of the major needs of many crime victims and the shortcomings of available systems of financial relief. Twenty-nine States have enacted some form of compensation, and one has passed legislation but delayed its implementation. Victim compensation has received considerable national attention since the mid-1960's. Costs are a concern, but the experience of existing programs reveals that the actual expenditures of victim compensation programs are relatively low. The central features of victim compensation include coverage, eligibility requirements, a written application process, claims decision procedures, public awareness efforts, outreach directly to victims, specific financial benefits, and limitations on awards. Victim compensation programs are one component of the growing movement to provide victim services. The establishment of a victim compensation program requires the determination of an appropriate administrative setting and revenue source and the enactment of legislation specifying the scope, policies, and procedures of the compensation effort. Table, appended texts of State and Federal legislation, list of sources of additional information, and 13 references