NCJ Number
94678
Date Published
1983
Length
11 pages
Annotation
An official from the Iowa Department of Public Safety and administrator of the State's crime victims reparation program discusses States' victim compensation laws and recommends guidelines for Federal assistance to such programs.
Abstract
Since 1965, 38 States and the District of Columbia have enacted crime victim compensation legislation. Most laws condition eligibility on the victim having reported the crime to the police and cooperated with them, provide compensation for unreimbursed medical expenses, funeral expenses, and loss of earnings, and set a ceiling on the amount of recovery. Many programs are financed by general revenues, although some are funded by offender assessments such as a surtax on criminal fines. Several State programs now share a common concern, the maintenance of adequate funding. Victims may have to wait lengthy periods for awards until enough fines have been collected or a new fiscal year begins to replenish the budget. Minimum loss requirements enacted by legislators to contain costs put elderly and low-income victims at a distinct disadvantage, since a threshhold of $100 or $250 is a loss they cannot absorb. Other States will not compensate nonresidents who are victimized within the State, although at least 15 States now have reciprocal agreements. If the Federal Government aids State prison systems, it seems only just that it should aid State victims programs. Federal monies should go only to existing State programs, and no program should be eligible for funds unless it provides compensation for anyone victimized within its borders, for both Federal and State crimes, and for psychological counseling required as a result of victimization. Funding allocations should be based on amounts of compensation awarded by a State during the previous year as part of a national total, although States should be fully reimbursed for payments made for Federal crimes.