NCJ Number
124894
Date Published
1989
Length
196 pages
Annotation
This report describes the availability of services and assistance to rape and sexual offense victims in New York State by providing a coordinated perspective of activity at State and local levels.
Abstract
Legislation in 1966 demonstrated New York's cognizance of the need to provide financial assistance to crime victims who incur out-of-pocket, unreimbursable losses directly attributable to a violent crime. Most claims accepted by the Crime Victims Board involve crime victims who are physically injured due to miscellaneous assaults or who have suffered the loss of essential personal property due to incidents of personal and household larceny. All crime victims filing for compensation benefits must meet certain eligibility criteria. Special benefits and exceptions, however, are afforded to sex offense victims and their family members. General compensation criteria for crime victims and compensation benefits are outlined. Extensive tabular data are presented on Crime Victims Board claims and disbursements and on rape and sex abuse claimants (age, sex, race, place and time of offense occurrence, victim-offender relationship, offender weapon type, and emotional trauma sustained). Three State agencies (Crime Victims Board, Department of Health, and Department of Social Services) are described as the primary grantmakers for local assistance programs that offer services to rape and sex offense victims. Additional information on relevant victim legislation and rape crisis and domestic violence programs is appended. 16 endnotes, 13 tables.