NCJ Number
86442
Date Published
1983
Length
225 pages
Annotation
This study describes policies and procedures of victim compensation programs across the country, examines the pros and cons of different program structures and operating procedures, looks at the costs of various State programs and their funding sources, and examines factors influencing Federal and State legislative efforts to develop victim compensation statutes.
Abstract
Study data were collected through a national telephone survey of compensation program directors, a phone survey of legislators, a review of research studies and legislative histories, and site visits to six State programs (New York, New Jersey, Florida, Tennessee, Montana, and California). Victim compensation programs have spread rapidly across the country and have gained broad support. Likely program trends include increased flexibility in eligibility criteria and increased use of fines and penalties for funding rather than general revenues. Most programs are organized at the State level. Court-based programs, especially those adjudicating claims in general trial court, have serious drawbacks. Offenders' relatives should be eligible for compensation, residency requirements should be amended, and essential property loss (i.e., eyeglasses) should be compensated. Discussion focuses on innovative ways to compensate needy victims, techniques for expediting claims processing, developing coordinated victim services, fundraising, and cost containment approaches. Footnotes, data tables, and charts are supplied. About 60 references are appended along with matrices summarizing compensation program characteristics, addresses of compensation programs, data collection instruments, and recommendations from the President's Task Force on Victims of Crime.