This report on the International Terrorism Victim Expense Reimbursement Program (ITVERP) reviews its history, organization, operations, achievements, challenges, and future goals.
As a result of the increased number of incidents of international terrorism against Americans abroad, the U.S. Congress recognized the need to assist victims in this new area of victimization. The Congress authorized and the Office of Justice Programs, through the Office for Victims of Crime (OVC), established the ITVERP. The ITVERP is authorized to reimburse eligible victims, including U.S. national and U.S. Government officers and employees. The relevant law requires that the individual victim must have "suffered direct physical or emotional injury or death as a result of international terrorism occurring on or after December 21, 1988, with respect to which an investigation or prosecution was ongoing after April 24, 1996." December 21, 1988, is the date of the terrorist bombing of Pan Am flight 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland. The types of expenses covered are medical expenses; costs of mental health care; property loss, repair, and replacement; funeral and burial costs; and miscellaneous expenses such as temporary lodging, local transportation, telephone, and emergency travel. Claimants may apply for reimbursement by completing and submitting an application form by mail. During its first year of operation (October 2006 through May 2007), OVC created the ITVERP Resource Center, which serves as the main contact for claimants and the general public seeking information on the program. The progress to date includes the development of application materials and brochures that are mailed to victims and their families, outreach efforts to governmental agencies and nonprofit organizations, an interim database system, a permanent database system for fiscal year 2008, and a payment system. Future goals include expanding the awareness and outreach of the program. Figures, tables, and appendixes A-B