NCJ Number
179528
Date Published
1999
Length
32 pages
Annotation
This report on Nebraska's Crime Victim's Reparations Program covers program administration, processing of claims, reasons for denying a claim, appeals, funding, Federal funds, program activities, and relevant 1997-98 legislative initiatives.
Abstract
The Nebraska Crime Victim's Reparations (CVR) Act was established by Legislative Bill 910, which became effective January 1, 1979. The program's purpose is to assist innocent crime victims with medical expenses, mental health counseling, loss of wages, homicide funeral bills, loss of earning power, crime scene clean-up, and other expenses directly related to the criminal act. The program now covers Nebraska residents who are victims of terrorism in foreign countries. Loss of property, pain and suffering, and expenses not directly related to the crime are not covered. The CVR program is funded through general fund appropriations, Federal compensation funds, and 5 percent of inmates' wages from federally certified correctional industry programs. The budget for fiscal year 1997-98 was $346,076. In addition, $11,534 was appropriated for operational expenses. Publicity for the CVR program among victims and in the community is provided through the distribution of brochures by law enforcement and prosecutor's agencies, public-speaking engagements and public service announcements, and through victim/witness units and domestic violence/sexual assault task forces. Data are provided on the number of claims received and amounts awarded for the period 1979-85 and 1985-88, as well as for fiscal years 1988-90 through 1997-98. A program summary provides data on the CVR program for fiscal year 1997-98.