NCJ Number
39012
Date Published
1975
Length
18 pages
Annotation
THIS STUDY CONCLUDES THAT THE RIGHTS OF CRIMINAL VICTIMS CAN BE STRENGTHENED BY THE ESTABLISHMENT OF VICTIM ADVOCATE TEAMS TO CARRY OUT A PROPOSED CRIME VICTIMS BILL OF RIGHTS.
Abstract
ALTHOUGH THE MIRANDA DECISION HAS STRENGTHENED RIGHTS FOR CRIMINAL SUSPECTS, A PERSON WHO BECOMES A CRIME VICTIM MUST ALSO HAVE HIS RIGHTS ENSURED, ACCORDING TO THIS 1975 STUDY BY A NEW YORK STATE SENATE TASK FORCE. IN 1967 THE STATE LEGISLATURE ESTABLISHED THE CRIME VICTIMS' COMPENSATION BOARD, BUT IN 1972 THE BOARD RULED FAVORABLY ON ONLY 715 OF THE FEW 2,061 CRIMINAL VICTIM CLAIMS. (THERE WERE SOME 137,000 VIOLENT CRIMES IN THE STATE IN 1974). THE VICTIMS' UNFAMILIARITY WITH THEIR RIGHT TO FILE CLAIMS AND RED TAPE ARE CITED AS FACTORS HAMPERING THE STATE'S VICTIM AID PROGRAM (VAP). THE TASK FORCE URGED ESTABLISHING FOUR-MEMBER VICTIM ADVOCATE TEAMS. EACH YEAR THESE VICTIM ADVOCATE TEAMS COULD SERVE 1,000 VICTIMS AT AN ANNUAL COST OF $120,000 PER TEAM. THE TASK FORCE RECOMMENDED THAT THE LEGISLATURE APPROVE $360,000 FOR A THREE CITY PILOT PROGRAM WHICH, IF SUCCESSFUL, WOULD BE THE BASIS FOR PUTTING TEETH INTO THE STATE'S VAP....BS