NCJ Number
154930
Journal
Crime Victim Compensation Quarterly Issue: 1 Dated: (1995) Pages: 9-14
Date Published
1995
Length
6 pages
Annotation
Any State with a victim compensation program that considers rape examinations as a compensable expense should be eligible to apply for Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) funds as long as certain conditions are met.
Abstract
All VAWA requires is that States have some process by which either victims are not billed for rape examinations or victims can apply within 1 year to have out-of-pocket costs for such examinations reimbursed within 90 days. VAWA does not require States to change or disregard reporting and cooperation requirements. According to Federal officials administering VAWA, States can deny rape examination payments because of failure to report and cooperate without affecting the State's eligibility for VAWA funding. Further, VAWA does not direct or require victim compensation programs to pay for rape examinations, and States are free to determine what government entity will pay for these examinations. The VAWA grant program and forensic medical examination procedures are described, details on VAWA funding requirements for sexual assault examinations are provided, and State approaches to paying for such examinations are discussed.