NCJ Number
206090
Date Published
April 2004
Length
3 pages
Annotation
This fact sheet distributed by the Office for Victims of Crime summarizes State crime victim compensation and assistance grant programs.
Abstract
The United States Department of Justice's Office for Victims of Crime (OVC) administers two major grant programs: Victim Compensation and Victim Assistance. During the past decade, these two programs have greatly improved the accessibility and quality of services for victims of Federal and State crimes. The Victim Compensation programs have established compensation and reimbursement for victims for crime related expenses such as: medical costs, mental health counseling, funeral and burial costs, and lost wages and loss of support. Although each State compensation program is administered individually, most programs have similar eligibility requirements and offer comparable benefits. To receive compensation, victims must comply with State statutes and rules, which generally require victims to cooperate with reasonable requests of law enforcement and submit an application to the compensation program. Each year, State and territories receive Victim Assistance funds to support community-based organizations that serve crime victims. These programs provide services that include: crisis intervention, counseling, emergency shelter, criminal justice advocacy, and emergency transportation. States and territories are required to give priority to programs serving victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, and child abuse. Additional funds must be set aside for underserved victims, such as survivors of homicide victims and victims of drunk drivers. References