NCJ Number
30606
Date Published
1974
Length
12 pages
Annotation
AN HISTORICAL REVIEW OF THE THREE TRADITIONAL MEANS OF VICTIM COMPENSATION - COMPOSITION, OFFENDER RESTITUTION, AND STATE COMPENSATION - WITH A SUMMARY OF VICTIM COMPENSATION LAWS ENACTED IN THE SEVERAL COUNTRIES.
Abstract
THE AUTHOR NOTES SEVERAL PROBLEMS WITH OFFENDER RESTITUTION, INCLUDING OFFENDER INABILITY TO PAY, THE LOW APPREHENSION RATE OF OFFENDERS, THE LOW PRISON EARNINGS OF OFFENDERS, AND THE HIGH COSTS OF ADMINISTERING SUCH PROGRAMS IN COMPARISON TO THE AMOUNT OF INCOME ACTUALLY COLLECTED FROM OFFENDERS. THE VICTIM COMPENSATION LAWS OF NEW ZEALAND, ENGLAND, NEW YORK, CALIFORNIA, HAWAII, MASSACHUSETTS, MARYLAND, NEVADA, AND NEW JERSEY ARE STUDIED. THE SIMILAR PROVISIONS OF THESE LAWS ARE LISTED, AND THE MAJOR PROBLEMS ENCOUNTERED IN THE ADMINISTRATION AND IMPLEMENTATION OF VICTIM COMPENSATION STATUTES ARE SUMMARIZED. SEVERAL CASE HISTORIES ILLUSTRATING THE DIFFICULTIES IN ADMINISTERING VICTIM COMPENSATION LEGISLATION ARE PROVIDED.