This paper reports on a project to provide updated knowledge about victim compensation programs and to determine how the various program structures, models, funding streams, and policies influence how those programs operate and distribute compensation.
This document lays out the research goals, methods, and findings of a research study that sought to update knowledge about victim compensation programs by administering a survey to victim compensation program administrators in each state, and by partnering with four states to perform a deep-dive assessment of their programs to examine how different programs operate and distribute compensation. It also includes a bibliography of sources cited and five appendixes: Comparison of National Survey of Victim Compensation Administrators, 2003 and 2023; National Survey of Victim Compensation Administrators; Victim Compensation Claimant Survey; Interview Questionnaire for Victim Compensation Staff; and Interview Questionnaire for Community- and Legal System-Based Victim Assistance Providers.