NCJ Number
242387
Date Published
2012
Length
59 pages
Annotation
This 2012 Annual Report of the Texas Compensation to Victims of Crime Fund (CVCF) contains statistics and information on activities, as well as future plans.
Abstract
As mandated in State legislation, the CVCF is to reimburse innocent victims for specified out-of-pocket expenses incurred as a result of violent crime. The majority of the funding for CVCF comes from convicted felony and misdemeanor offenders in the form of court costs and other fees. In fiscal year (FY) 2012, the Office of the Attorney General (OAG), which administers the CVCF, has reviewed almost 37,000 applications and awarded just over $71.4 million in compensation to crime victims. This funding has assisted in compensating crime victims and their families for health care, counseling, and funeral costs that resulted from violent criminal acts. In addition to helping these victims directly, the OAG serves crime victims by awarding grants to nonprofit organizations that provide services to crime victims, such as victim advocacy centers, court appointed special advocates, sexual assault crisis centers, and domestic violence shelters. In FY 2012, the Texas Legislature appropriated $22.9 million out of the CVCF directly to specific victim services organizations, and $19.9 million was awarded under a competitive process. Unfortunately, the OAG's ability to award victim assistance grants has been weakened by the CVCF's budget shortfall. Increased legislative appropriations and declining court-cost collections by local governments have left the CVCF with inadequate cash reserves for maintaining the victim services grant program at current levels. The OAG is working closely with victim advocates, State agencies and legislators in an effort to find a solution. The focus is on building consensus toward a resolution in the upcoming legislative session that restores fiscal stability to the CVCF. A table shows grants and awards by county.