VICTIM COMPENSATION AND THE ELDERLY - POLICY AND ADMINISTRATIVE ISSUES

• NCJ Number: 51876
• Author(s): R HOFRICHTER
• Date Published: 1979
• Length: 115 pages
• Grant Number(s): 77DF-99-0038
• Sponsoring Agency: US Dept of Justice
• Corporate Author: Criminal Justice and the Elderly
• Sale Source: Superintendent of Documents, GPO
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: A REPORT TO THE HOUSE SELECT COMMITTEE ON AGING, 96TH CONGRESS, 1ST SESSION, JANUARY 1979

Annotation

A NATIONAL STUDY OF FACTORS INFLUENCING THE ABILITY OF ELDERLY VICTIMS TO QUALIFY FOR AND OBTAIN BENEFITS FROM VICTIM COMPENSATION PROGRAMS IS DOCUMENTED.

Abstract

THE STUDY INVOLVED AN EXAMINATION OF STATE AND FEDERAL LEGISLATION, RULES AND PROCEDURES OF VICTIM COMPENSATION BOARDS, AND CLAIM STATISTICS. LITERATURE ON VICTIM COMPENSATION WAS REVIEWED, AND PERSONNEL IN COMPENSATION AND ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS WERE INTERVIEWED. THE SPECIAL PROBLEMS OF ELDERLY VICTIMS ARE POINTED OUT. POLICY ISSUES (STRUCTURE AND ADMINISTRATION OF PROGRAMS, SCOPE OF COVERAGE, ELIGIBILITY) AND ADMINISTRATIVE ISSUES (FILING, PROCESSING, REVIEWING CLAIMS) ARE ANALYZED, WITH EMPHASIS ON IDENTIFYING OBSTACLES THAT RESTRICT ELDERLY VICTIMS' ABILITY TO BE LAWFUL CLAIMANTS FOR COMPENSATION, TO LEARN OF THE EXISTENCE OF COMPENSATION PROGRAMS, TO APPLY FOR COMPENSATION AND HAVE THEIR CLAIMS PROCESSED, AND TO RECEIVE THEIR FULL ENTITLEMENT AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE. THE ANALYSIS SHOWS THAT ONLY A RELATIVELY NARROW CLASS OF VICTIMS IS ELIGIBLE FOR REIMBURSEMENT, THAT ONLY A VERY SMALL PERCENTAGE OF THE INTENDED BENEFICIARIES EVER LEARN ABOUT THE EXISTENCE OF COMPENSATION PROGRAMS, THAT A MAJORITY OF THE FEW VICTIMS WHO APPLY FOR BENEFITS NEVER RECEIVE AN AWARD, AND THAT RECIPIENTS OF AWARDS USUALLY MUST WAIT FOR 3 MONTHS TO A YEAR TO RECEIVE REIMBURSEMENT. FACTORS THAT REDUCE THE EFFECTIVENESS OF VICTIM COMPENSATION PROGRAMS HAVE TO DO WITH THE LACK OF PUBLIC AWARENESS OF THE PROGRAMS, AND WITH DELAYS AND DENIALS THAT STEM FROM COMPENSATION LAWS AND REGULATIONS AND FROM DAY-TO-DAY CLAIMS-PROCESSING PROBLEMS. THESE OBSTACLES AFFECT ALL VICTIMS, BUT ARE PARTICULARLY TROUBLESOME FOR THE INFIRM, THE POOR, THE INARTICULATE, AND THE SOCIALLY ISOLATED. A SUBSTANTIAL NUMBER OF ELDERLY VICTIMS FALL INTO THESE CATEGORIES. VICTIM COMPENSATION PROGRAMS SHOULD PROVIDE A PERSONALIZED SERVICE THAT REACHES OUT TO AND SUPPORTS ELIGIBLE VICTIMS. VICTIM COMPENSATION PROGRAMS SHOULD BE LINKED WITH VICTIM ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS SO THAT EVERY CLIENT IS ASSURED COMPREHENSIVE BENEFITS AND SERVICES. SUPPORTING DATA AND DOCUMENTATION AND A LIST OF REFERENCES ARE INCLUDED. (LKM)