NCJ Number
94677
Date Published
1983
Length
14 pages
Annotation
The chairman of the New York State Crime Victims Board emphasizes that while crime victims' compensation does work for the elderly, the number of awards as well as the type and amount of financial assistance for victims are limited by inadequate funding and legal restrictions.
Abstract
In New York State, the Crime Victims Board receives over 8,000 claims annually, of which 14 percent are from elderly persons. Certain conditions in the aging process increase the elderly's vulnerability to criminal victimization, but victim compensation programs are reaching only a small proportion of elderly victims. These programs generally determine a victim is eligible for compensation only if a physical injury is sustained, cooperation with police is evidenced, he or she is a dependent of the deceased victim, and the claim is filed within an appropriate time frame. In addition, many programs require a financial-means test and will serve only victims who are residents of that State. Loss of property or pain and suffering usually are not compensable losses. Some programs have special provisions to benefit the elderly, such as eliminating minimum loss requirements, giving awards for home care or repair of personal property, using special claims adjustment units trained to deal with the elderly, and establishing linkages with other victim assistance services. The latter have evolved to fill the gap left by compensation programs, and 24 percent of all victims served by victim assistance projects are elderly. There is a need for Federal funding assistance, but S. 704 does not adequately address funding sources or allocations of funds to State and local programs.