NCJ Number
94508
Date Published
1984
Length
10 pages
Annotation
This statement describes the key features of Administration bill S.2423, the Victims of Crime Assistance Act of 1984, which will provide Federal aid to the States for victim compensation programs.
Abstract
Under the bill, the Federal Government will provide money to the States to encourage them to operate their own victim compensation programs. The legislation provides for only minimal Federal guidance in areas of substantial Federal interest. The principal source of funding will be the total of all criminal fines collected from convicted Federal defendants, including antitrust fines, fines imposed for criminal violation of Federal motor vehicle laws, and forfeited appearance bonds. The Crime Victims' Assistance Fund would also receive the proceeds of any contract entered into by any Federal defendant for the sale of literary or other rights arising from a criminal act. Fifty percent of the money deposited in the Fund will be available for distribution annually to those States with operating victim compensation programs to reimburse them for 10 percent of their program payouts. To be eligible for funding, a State must provide the same compensation to nonresident victims as it does to residents as well as the same compensation to victims of Federal crimes as to victims of State crimes. The States must also agree to compensate victims for any mental health counseling required as a result of their victimization. Thirty percent of the Fund will be distributed to the States on the basis of their population to facilitate improvement in overall victim services, and the remaining 20 percent of the Fund will be distributed among Federal law enforcement agencies to improve their victim services. The bill also provides victims with the opportunity to appear at Federal parole hearings to present information on the impact of the prospective parolee's crime on their lives.