NCJ Number
72766
Journal
Victimology Volume: 5 Issue: 1 Dated: (1980) Pages: 61-67
Date Published
1980
Length
7 pages
Annotation
This study examines the impact of the Florida victim compensation program upon its clients and suggests that victims use cost-benefit analysis in deciding whether or not to file claims.
Abstract
The study used two groups drawn from the files of the Florida Crimes Compensation Commission. Only claims initiated and closed during calendar year 1979 were eligible for inclusion. The first group, applicants who received compensation, originally numbered 191 victims or 100 percent of all awards. The second group, applicants denied compensation, represented approximately a 50-percent sample of the 439 denials. Two hypotheses were examined: (1) applicants who received compensation will express more favorable attitudes toward criminal justice system personnel than applicants denied compensation; and (2) applicants who received compensation will be more likely to cooperate with criminal justice system personnel in the future than applicants denied compensation. Survey results showed that, while compensated victims expressed satisfaction with the Crimes Compensation Commission, they were not similarly satisfied with other criminal justice system components. It would appear that victims are not satisfied with a system which, by mandating their cooperation, extracts certain costs, and then fails to repay or compensate for these costs. Tabular data and 16 references are given.