NCJ Number
172207
Date Published
1998
Length
60 pages
Annotation
Crime victim compensation programs throughout the United States offer crucial financial assistance to victims of violence; this directory provides information on how these programs operate and what victims can do to seek help.
Abstract
Crime victim compensation programs pay for medical care, mental health counseling, lost wages and support, and funerals in homicide cases. With few exceptions, programs pay only for expenses related to personal injury and do not cover property that is stolen, lost, or damaged. The number of programs has increased since the late 1980s but the goal is the same: to provide timely financial assistance to victims in need. The programs are significant in helping victims recover from the trauma and economic burden of criminal victimization. Procedural aspects of the programs are described that concern funding, the application process, eligibility requirements, compensable costs, maximums and limits, and collateral resources. Program profiles are provided by State, and programs in New Zealand and Great Britain are also noted.