MAKING THE CRIME VICTIM WHOLE - COMPOSITION, RESTITUTION, COMPENSATION (FROM IMAGES OF CRIME - OFFENDERS AND VICTIMS, 1974 BY TERENCE P THORNBERRY AND EDWARD SAGARIN SEE NCJ-15520)

• NCJ Number: 30606
• Author(s): D E MACNAMARA; J J SULLIVAN
• Date Published: 1974
• Length: 12 pages
• Corporate Author: Praeger Publishers
• Publication Format: Document
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

AN HISTORICAL REVIEW OF THE THREE TRADITIONAL MEANS OF VICTIM COMPENSATION - COMPOSITION, OFFENDER RESTITUTION, AND STATE COMPENSATION - WITH A SUMMARY OF VICTIM COMPENSATION LAWS ENACTED IN THE SEVERAL COUNTRIES.

Abstract

THE AUTHOR NOTES SEVERAL PROBLEMS WITH OFFENDER RESTITUTION, INCLUDING OFFENDER INABILITY TO PAY, THE LOW APPREHENSION RATE OF OFFENDERS, THE LOW PRISON EARNINGS OF OFFENDERS, AND THE HIGH COSTS OF ADMINISTERING SUCH PROGRAMS IN COMPARISON TO THE AMOUNT OF INCOME ACTUALLY COLLECTED FROM OFFENDERS. THE VICTIM COMPENSATION LAWS OF NEW ZEALAND, ENGLAND, NEW YORK, CALIFORNIA, HAWAII, MASSACHUSETTS, MARYLAND, NEVADA, AND NEW JERSEY ARE STUDIED. THE SIMILAR PROVISIONS OF THESE LAWS ARE LISTED, AND THE MAJOR PROBLEMS ENCOUNTERED IN THE ADMINISTRATION AND IMPLEMENTATION OF VICTIM COMPENSATION STATUTES ARE SUMMARIZED. SEVERAL CASE HISTORIES ILLUSTRATING THE DIFFICULTIES IN ADMINISTERING VICTIM COMPENSATION LEGISLATION ARE PROVIDED.