The National Evaluation of State Victims of Crime Act Assistance and Compensation Programs: Trends and Strategies for the Future (Full Report)

research for safer communities URBAN INSTITUTEJustice Policy CenterThe National Evaluation of State Victims of Crime Act Assistance and Compensation Programs: Trends and Strategies for the Future Lisa Newmark Judy Bonderman Barbara Smith Blaine Liner And the Urban Institute/SANDAG Project Team: Ryan Allen, The Urban Institute Darlanne Hoctor Mulmat, SANDAGMichelle Waul, The Urban Institute Lori Jones, SANDAG Jake Rosenfeld, The Urban Institute Ruth White, The Urban Institute This report was prepared under Grant NIJ#98-VF-GX-0016 from the National Institute of Justice. Opinions expressed in this document are those of the authors, and do not necessarily represent the official position or policies of the U.S. Department of Justice, the Urban Institute, its trustees, or its funders. RESEARCH REPORT April 2003 For an electronic version (Adobe Acrobat) of the full report or just the executive summary, send an e-mail to jpc@ui.urban.org and specify “VOCA report” or “VOCA executive summary.” iTable of Contents ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ...............................................................V ABSTRACT IX EXECUTIVE SUMMARY...............................................................XI Crime Victims’ Compensation ................................................................................................................ xii The Use of Compensation Funds.............................................................................................................. xiii Program Standards and Goals ..................................................................................................................xiv The Mission of Compensation Programs ....................................................................................................xv Financial Planning .....................................................................................................................................xv Program Management ..............................................................................................................................xvi Outreach and Communication...................................................................................................................xvi Claims Processing ...................................................................................................................................xvii Claim Outcomes..................................................................................................................................... xviii Recommendations for Compensation Program Development .....................................................................xix VOCA Victim Assistance Programs ......................................................................................................... xx The Use of VOCA Assistance Funds ...........................................................................................................xxi Policy and Program Issues .......................................................................................................................xxi Funding Supports Valuable Services ........................................................................................................xxii State Program Management ................................................................................................................... xxiii Issues for Direct Service Providers .......................................................................................................... xxiv Recommendations for VOCA Assistance Program Development ............................................................... xxvi Coordination of Victim Assistance and Compensation Programs ........................................................ xxviii Sources of Help for Victims................................................................................................................... xxviii The Need for Coordination ...................................................................................................................... xxix Methods of Coordination Between VOCA Assistance and Compensation Programs ................................... xxix Coordination Between State Administrators of VOCA Assistance and Other Victim Services Funding ....... xxxiii Recommendations to Improve Coordination Efforts ............................................................................... xxxiii VICTIMS’ COMPENSATION AND ASSISTANCE ...................................1 Help for Victims of Crime: Early Community, State, and Federal Efforts ...................................................1 Federal Funding Through The Victims of Crime Act of 1984.....................................................................1 VOCA Purposes and Funding ......................................................................................................................2 Evaluating State VOCA Programs .............