NCJ Number
46913
Date Published
1976
Length
18 pages
Annotation
THE COST OF A PROPOSED FEDERAL PROGRAM THAT WOULD COMPENSATE VICTIMS OF ASSAULTIVE CRIMES IN FEDERAL JURISDICTIONS IS ASSESSED UTILIZING VICTIMIZATION SURVEY DATA.
Abstract
THIS ANALYSIS IS BASED ON DATA FROM THE LEAA'S NATIONAL CRIME SURVEY (NCS) OF PERSONAL VICTIMIZATION IN 26 CENTRAL CITIES. DRAWN FROM SAMPLES IN URBAN ENVIRONMENTS COMPRISING APPROXIMATELY 22 MILLION PERSONS 12 YEARS OF AGE OR OLDER, THE DATA CONCLUDE INFORMATION ON DEGREE OF INJURY, COST OF MEDICAL CARE, EXTENT OF HOSITALIZATION, AMOUNT OF COMPENSATION AND LENGTH OF WORKTIME DISABILITY FOR APPROXIMATELY 7,700 ASSAULTIVE VICTIMIZATIONS WITH INJURY; THESE SAMPLE VICTIMIZATIONS REPRESENT ABOUT 293,000 INJURIOUS VICTIMIZATIONS FOR THE 26 CITIES. LOCAL VICTIM COMPENSATION PROGRAMS ARE REVIEWED. SINCE 1965, 19 STATES HAVE INTRODUCED SUCH PROGRAMS, OF WHICH 17 REMAIN OPERATIONAL; PROVISIONS RELATING TO OFFENSE COVERAGE, REPORTING CRITERIA, MINIMUM CLAIMS, AND MAXIMUM AWARDS ARE BRIEFLY DISCUSSED. THE PROVISIONS OF THE PROPOSED FEDERAL PROGRAM ARE EXAMINED IN DETAIL; THE NATURE OF THE OFFENSES, CONSTRAINTS REGARDING VICTIM ELIGIBILITY, AWARD FACTORS, AND SOURCES OF FUNDING ARE CONSIDERED. THE SCOPE OF THE FEDERAL JURISDICTION CONSTRAINT IS EXAMINED; UNLIKE MOST OFFENSES OCCURRING IN STATE OR LOCAL JURISDICTION, FEDERAL JURISDICTION OFFENSES ARE DEFINED NARROWLY WITH RESPECT TO TARGETS AND THE LOCATION OF OFFENSES. POLICE-BASED STATISTICS AND VICTIMIZATION SURVEY DATA ARE DISCUSSED AS SOURCES OF INFORMATION ON THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF INCIDENTS OF ASSAULTIVE VICTIMIZATION -- THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE OFFENDER AND VICTIM, THE TYPE OF WEAPON USED, AND THE LOCATION OF THE OFFENSE. ANALYSES ARE PRESENTED OF THE COSTS OF VICTIMIZATION AND OF THE PROJECTED COST OF THE PROPOSED VICTIM COMPENSATION PROGRAM, INCLUDING TABULAR DATA REGARDING THE MEDICAL COSTS INCURRED IN ASSAULTIVE VICTIMIZATIONS BROKEN DOWN BY INJURY CHARACTERISTICS, INCOME CLASSES, SELECTED DEMOGRAPHIC CHARACTERISTICS, AND INSURANCE COVERAGE FACTORS. BASED ON THE AVAILABLE VICTIMIZATION SURVEY DATA, IT IS ESTIMATED THAT THE COST OF THE FEDERAL VICTIM COMPENSATION FUND'S COVERAGE FOR ONE YEAR IS ABOUT $8,6000,500. THIS INCLUDED $460,000 IN FUNERAL BENEFITS AND $1,435,200 IN LOSS OF SUPPORT FOR 184 HOMICIDE VICTIMS; $6,141,330 IN THE DISCOUNTED VALUE OF FUTURE LOSS OF SUPPORT PAYMENTS TO HOMICIDE VICTIMS; $388,500 IN MEDICAL COVERAGE FOR 127 RAPE AND 870 ASSAULT VICTIMS; AND $175,500 IN DISABILITY PAYMENTS FOR 1 RAPE AND 44 ASSAULT VICTIMS. THIS IS WELL WITHIN THE $15.4 MILLION ALLOCATED TO THE FUND FOR SUCH AWARDS. REFERENCE NOTES ARE PROVIDED. (KBL)