Publications and Research
Document Type
Report
Publication Date
Summer 6-9-2014
Abstract
Victims of violent crime are often unable to access financial compensation to offset the costs of victimization (e.g., medical, lost wages, funeral expenses) despite the massive amounts of money set aside for just that purpose. Currently, there is about $11 billion in the federal Crime Victims Fund (CVF). Less than 10 percent of this amount is allocated to state victim compensation programs. This report explores the funding mechanisms used by federal and state governments to compensate victims of crime, and it describes the administrative and policy problems in these systems. The report offers several recommendations for improvement. States have their methods for funding victim compensation. Still, a gradual increase in spending of CVF funds could address the need for compensation among thousands of crime victims who never receive any support from the existing system.
Included in
Criminal Law Commons, Inequality and Stratification Commons, Quantitative, Qualitative, Comparative, and Historical Methodologies Commons, Social Control, Law, Crime, and Deviance Commons, Social Justice Commons, Social Welfare Commons