NCJ Number
74743
Date Published
1977
Length
22 pages
Annotation
This preliminary report by the Legislative Research Commission's Committee on Criminal Law and State Property Matters of the State of North Carolina presents some data regarding possible legislation establishing a victim compensation program funded by the State.
Abstract
Community compensation of crime victims has historic antecendents dating back to the Code of Hammurabi in 1775 BC. Many countries, such as New Zealand, Australia, Great Britain, Canada, and Sweden and American States i.e., Alaska, California, Delaware, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, North Dakota, Rhode Island, Tennessee, and Washington, have adopted legislation on crime victim compensation. State programs in the United States are administered by various agencies, including independent boards, commissions, and the courts. The North Carolina Legislative Research Commission gathered data on the fiscal and legal aspects of a crime victim compensation problem funded by the State but in view of the complexities involved has declined to recommend either the adoption of rejection of such a program. The only victims of crime for whom the North Carolina General Assembly has provided a limited compensation plan are private citizens who received injuries while aiding a law enforcement officer in making an arrest or preventing an escape. Six appendixes contain all the relevant legal citations and excerpts from North Carolina laws and statutes, as well as the State Attorney General's opinion on the constitutionality of a crime victim compensation program.