NCJ Number
223629
Date Published
March 2008
Length
3 pages
Annotation
This report presents project highlights from a study of crime victims’ use and nonuse of Pennsylvania’s Victims Compensation Assistance Program (VCAP).
Abstract
Findings from the study’s survey of victim-service professionals supported the general consensus from the review of relevant literature that more crime victims do not take advantage of compensation services because they are not aware of them. The Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency‘s Office of Victims’ Services has already instituted a variety of training and outreach efforts in order to increase victims’ awareness of compensation available to them. One of the key questions in the survey of victim-service professionals asked respondents about their perceptions of the influence of various factors in limiting victims’ use of compensation services. Factors related to the process of filing claims for compensation were rated as most important; factors related to victims’ beliefs were viewed as less important. The study’s analysis of data on Pennsylvania’s VCAP program showed that from fiscal year 1999 to fiscal year 2007, the number of claims received and paid by VCAP grew steadily, with claims received almost tripling and claims paid more than tripling over this period. A comparison of Pennsylvania’s victim compensation payments with those of the Nation as a whole shows that Pennsylvania apparently paid a greater proportion of claims for homicide than the national proportion, but a lower proportion of claims to sexual assault victims. According to response cards completed by crime victims in Pennsylvania, 92 percent were satisfied with the compensation process. One recommendation is that the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency compare the features and implementation of Pennsylvania’s VCAP program with victim compensation programs in a few States chosen to match Pennsylvania on a number of key criteria.