NCJ Number
188181
Date Published
1999
Length
28 pages
Annotation
This is the 1999 (October 1, 1998-September 30, 1999) Annual Report of the Michigan Crime Victim Services Commission (CVSC), which is the State agency charged with overseeing a wide range of services and funding for crime victims.
Abstract
The goal of the CVSC is to promote services and supports that enhance the health, well-being, dignity, and rights of victims of crime across the State. All Commission services are supported with money paid by criminal defendants. During fiscal year 1998-99, the crime victims compensation program provided $2.18 million in direct financial assistance to 714 crime victims. These payments are a last resort for injured crime victims with unpaid medical bills, loss of earnings or support, burial payments, and counseling needs. The crime victim assistance program provides Federal pass-through dollars in grants to local public and nonprofit agencies that provide direct services to crime victims. Priority is given to projects that provide services to victims of child abuse, sexual assault, domestic violence, and underserved crime victims. In fiscal year 1998-99, 99 projects were funded in the amount of $7,324,903. The crime victims rights program administers assessment revenue collected from convicted defendants by circuit, district, and juvenile courts. The total victims rights funding to local units in fiscal year 1998-99 was $4,054,605. Funds were disbursed to the State's prosecuting attorneys to support implementation of P.A. 87 of 1985, the Crime Victims Rights Act. This act provides comprehensive, mandatory rights for crime victims to participate in and be notified of all pertinent proceedings in the criminal justice process for their case. Extensive data on CVSC services and activities are provided.