NCJ Number
195278
Date Published
2000
Length
38 pages
Annotation
This is the 2000 Annual Report (October 1, 1999-September 30, 2000) of Michigan's Crime Victim Services Commission, which is the State agency charged with overseeing a wide range of services and funding for crime victims.
Abstract
The commission's goal is to promote services and supports that enhance the health, safety, dignity, and rights of crime victims across the State. The commission is appointed by the governor and is composed of a practicing attorney, a county prosecutor, a law enforcement officer, a member of the medical profession, and a community-based victim advocate. It is empowered to investigate and determine claims for crime victim compensation; to monitor, evaluate, and coordinate State and local victim assistance programs; to determine and administer revenues and assessments required in support of services under the Crime Victims Rights Act; and to administer Federal funds under the Victims of Crime Act of 1984. During FY 1999-00, the crime victims compensation program provided $1.7 million in direct financial assistance to 696 crime victims. A maximum of $15,000 may be reimbursed to each injured victim or victim's family. Data are provided on the number of claims filed, awarded, and denied. The average award was $2,749. Grants (Federal pass-through dollars) were provided for crime victim assistance in the amount of $8,300,387, with priority given to projects that provide services to victims of child abuse, sexual assault, domestic violence, and underserved crime victims. The crime victims rights program administers assessment revenue collected from convicted defendants by the courts. Data are provided on this program's activities. Detailed data are provided on victim characteristics, crime characteristics, compensation awards by payment type, reasons for denial of claim, award decisions by county, grant information, funding to prosecuting attorneys, and funding to various types of courts.