NCJ Number
58204
Journal
Sociological Symposium Issue: 25 Dated: SPECIAL ISSUE (WINTER 1979) Pages: 40-60
Date Published
1979
Length
21 pages
Annotation
DATA FROM VICTIM COMPENSATION PROGRAMS IN SASKATCHEWAN AND ONTARIO, CANADA, ARE ANALYZED TO DETERMINE THE IMPACT OF SUCH PROGRAMS ON CONVICTION RATES.
Abstract
BECAUSE THE PROGRAMS COMPENSATE VICTIMS OF VIOLENT CRIMES BUT NOT PROPERTY CRIMES, AND BECAUSE PREREQUISITES FOR RECEIVING A COMPENSATION AWARD INCLUDE REPORTING THE CRIME AND COOPERATING WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES, IT WAS HYPOTHESIZED THAT VICTIM COMPENSATION PROGRAMS WOULD BE ASSOCIATED WITH HIGHER CONVICTION RATES FOR VIOLENT CRIMES BUT NOT FOR PROPERTY CRIMES. A STATISTICAL ANALYSIS EMPLOYING A QUASI-EXPERIMENTAL INTERRUPTED TIME-SERIES DESIGN SHOWS THAT VICTIM COMPENSATION PROGRAMS IN SASKATCHEWAN AND ONTARIO HAVE NOT PRODUCED HIGHER CONVICTION RATES. THIS FINDING IS IN LINE WITH THE RESULTS OF OTHER STUDIES THAT HAVE FAILED TO DEMONSTRATE ANY APPRECIABLE EFFECTS OF VICTIM COMPENSATION PROGRAMS ON CANADA'S CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM. POSSIBLE EXPLANATIONS FOR THESE FINDINGS INCLUDE LIMITED PUBLIC AWARENESS OF VICTIM COMPENSATION PROGRAMS, PROBLEMS WITH CLAIM PROCESSING AND SERVICE DELIVERY, FREQUENT REJECTION OF VICTIMS' CLAIMS, AND VICTIM DISSATISFACTION WITH THE AMOUNT OF AWARDS. A DETAILED EXPLANATION OF THE STATISTICAL ANALYSIS IS PROVIDED, AND PROBLEMS IN THE RESEARCH DESIGN THAT MAY HAVE AFFECTED THE FINDINGS ARE POINTED OUT. THE NEED FOR CANADIAN COMPENSATION PROGRAMS TO IMPROVE THEIR OPERATIONS AND TO EXPLORE EVALUATIVE MEASURES IS BROUGHT OUT. SUPPORTING DATA AND A LIST OF REFERENCES ARE INCLUDED. (LKM)