VI OVC State Wide Compensation Report

VICTIMS OF CRIME ACT
STATE COMPENSATION PROGRAM
2007 VIRGIN ISLANDS STATE WIDE COMPENSATION REPORT

CLAIMS DATA


1. NUMBER OF NEW CLAIMS RECEIVED DURING REPORTING PERIOD
a. Total claims, if only one claim is usually counted per crime:	65
OR
b. Total claims, if victims and indirect victims generally count as separate items:
2. NUMBER OF CLAIMS APPROVED AS ELIGIBLE	55
(a) Number of Victims 17 and Under	1
(b) Number approved for victims 18 - 64	54
(c) Number approved for victims 65 and Older	0
3. NUMBER OF CLAIMS APPROVED AS INELIGIBLE OR CLOSED	10
4. NUMBER OF FORENSIC SEXUAL ASSAULT EXAMINATION CLAIMS RECEIVED DURING THE REPORT PERIOD. IF SUCH CLAIMS ARE HANDLED THROUGH SEPARATE CLAIMS PROCEDURE. (See Instructions)	5

PAYMENT STATISTICS BY CRIME CATEGORY:

TYPE OF CRIME	a. NUMBER OF CLAIMS PAID DURING REPORTING PERIOD Includes Column b	b. NUMBER OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE RELATED CLAIMS PAID DURING REPORTING PERIOD	c. TOTAL AMOUNT PAID BY CATEGORY Including all supple- mental payments
1. ASSAULT	29	6	$288,916
2. HOMICIDE	20	0	$72,800
3. SEXUAL ASSAULT
4. CHILD ABUSE (Including sexual physical abuse)	0
5. DWI/DUI	0
6. OTHER VEHICULAR CRIMES	0
7. STALKING	0
8. ROBBERY	1		$2,100
9. TERRORISM	0
10. KIDNAPPING	0
11. ARSON	0
12. OTHER
TOTAL	50	6	$363,816

INDICATE TOTAL EXPENSES PAID BY SERVICE

1. MEDICAL/DENTAL (Except Mental Health)	$229,118
2. MENTAL HEALTH	$1,500
3. ECONOMIC SUPPORT (Lost Wages, Loss of Support)	$27,778
4. FUNERAL/BURIAL (Including all Funeral Related Expenses)	$21,100
5. CRIME SCENE CLEAN-UP	$0
6. FORENSIC SEXUAL ASSAULT EXAMS	$3,085
7. OTHER	$84,320
8. TOTAL	$366,901

Please respond to the following questions
additional 8x11 sheets may be attached if necessary

1. DESCRIBE THE IMPACT THAT VOCA FUNDS HAVE HAD ON YOUR PROGRAM'S ABILITY TO MEET THE NEEDS OF CRIME
VICTIMS.

At the Virgin Islands Victim Compensation program, every penny counts. Although we receive a small appropriation from our local legislature we do realize that it is a far cry from enough. The funds received through VOCA has been extremely helpful to the people of the United States Virgin Islands. Through these funds we have been able to meet the needs of innocent victims of crimes and aid them in getting their lives back in order. The Virgin Islands Crime Victim Compensation Commission is very grateful for the funds received through VOCA. If these compensation funds were not receive, many of the needs of our people would go unmet. Through these funds we are able to awarded compensation to innocent victims of crime in areas such as medical expenses, pain & suffering, and dependent benefits. VOCA funds are dependent on and are very needed.

2. HOW DO YOU MEASURE YOUR PROGRAM'S EFFICIENCY AND EFFECTIVENESS IN REDUCING THE FINANCIAL IMPACT
OF CRIME ON VICTIMS? WHAT ARE THE RESULTS?

Many programs measure efficiency by different means. Although we realize effiency is important we aslo strive for great effectiveness. Efficiency in our program is not really mesaured by the amount of the financial/compensation award. The measurement comes from the total processing time (time when a claim is filed to time it takes to issue approval/compensation or denial. In addition, we also contact our clients after the compensation is issued via follow-up phone calls.  We do understand that not all claims may have the same processing time, but it is the program's goal to get the average turn around time on claims to be a maximum of three months. Along with the above we measure our financial accountablility by ensuring that the compensation award is issued within the structure of the applicable laws and abides by all standards of fairness.

3. DID YOUR STATE USE VOCA ADMINSTRATIVE FUNDS?   No
   IF YOUR STATE USED VOCA ADMINSTRATIVE FUNDS, PLEASE DESCRIBE THE IMPACT THESE FUNDS HAVE HAD ON YOUR
   STATE'S ABILITY TO PROVIDE COMPENSATION OR IMPROVE VICTIM SERVICES.

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This document was last updated on August 04, 2008