NCJ Number
138716
Date Published
1972
Length
176 pages
Annotation
This report reviews the legislative history and legislative impact of New York State's victim-compensation law, which inaugurated a victim compensation program in early 1967.
Abstract
Measured by the terms of its own mandates, the New York State victim compensation program has been effective. Measured by other standards, including the program's own agenda for service to crime victims, the program has also done well under the circumstances; however, as measured by the need which is the rationale for the program, the program has hardly scratched the surface. Most of the problems of the program stem from the incompatibility between the stated legislative purpose to compensate crime victims and the legislative architecture and budget allocations that limit eligibility to some victims of violent crime, sharply limit the amounts of compensation that can be paid to this narrow class of eligible victims, and make it difficult for large segments of the eligible constituency to be aware of the available benefits. The most troublesome administrative problems arise from the requirement that serious financial hardship be demonstrated by the victim. 158 footnotes, appended victim compensation act, and supplementary material