NCJ Number
142885
Date Published
1993
Length
48 pages
Annotation
The victim compensation program established for victims of violent crimes in New South Wales, Australia was examined with respect to the pattern of claims, claimants, and awards.
Abstract
Study data came from a random sample of 1,022 case files. Results revealed that approximately 24 percent of the claimants were employed and working at the time they became violence victims. Assault with a weapon or by some other means was the most common type of violent offense, accounting for 72.9 percent of the claims. The most common injury was bruising, sustained by almost 56 percent of the victims. Three percent of the victims were judged by the Victims Compensation Tribunal to have contributed to the injuries they sustained. Thirty percent of the violent acts occurred in a residence. Most claims (85.9 percent) were lodged with the Tribunal within 2 years after the act of violence, the period specified in the Victims Compensation Act. The Tribunal awarded compensation in about 92 percent of the claims. Figures, tables, notes, appended instrument, and 9 references