NCJ Number
98643
Date Published
1984
Length
475 pages
Annotation
These congressional hearings held on 6 days in 1984 focused on three bills before the House of Representatives which would provide financial compensation and other help to crime victims.
Abstract
Bill H.R. 3498 would permit Federal grants to State victim compensation programs and to victim assistance programs. Funding would come from a crime compensation fund. That fund would consist of all fines collected in Federal criminal cases, the proceeds of all forfeitures in Federal criminal cases, the taxes imposed by Federal law on pistols and revolvers, and penalty assessments collected from defendants convicted of Federal offenses. Up to 80 percent of the fund would be used for victim compensation grants; the remainder would be for victim assistance grants. In fiscal year 1981, the fund would have received about $65 million in revenues. The 42 speakers at the hearings included representatives of victim advocacy organizations, Federal and State officials, a representative of the National Rifle Association, and victims and family members of victims. Prepared statements from some witnesses, additional written materials submitted to the congressional committee, and the text of another bill, H.R. 6059, are included.