THE NEW YORK CRIME VICTIMS COMPENSATION BOARD WAS ESTABLISHED IN 1966 TO ADMINISTER A STATE LAW THAT PROVIDES FOR FINANCIAL COMPENSATION TO INNOCENT VICTIMS OF VIOLENT CRIMES WHO ARE INJURED, DISABLED OR KILLED AS A RESULT OF CRIMINAL ACTS. AWARDS ARE LIMITED TO VICTIMS AND THEIR DEPENDENTS WHO HAVE SUFFERED SERIOUS FINANCIAL HARDSHIP AS A RESULT OF INJURIES OR DEATH FROM VIOLENT CRIMES. CRITERIA FOR WHAT CONSTITUTES SERIOUS FINANCIAL HARDSHIP ARE DECIDED ON A CASE-BY-CASE BASIS, WITH THE BOARD BEING AUTHORIZED TO MAKE AWARDS UP TO A MAXIMUM AMOUNT OF $20,000 PER CLAIMANT FOR LOSS OF EARNINGS OR SUPPORT AND UNLIMITED AMOUNTS FOR MEDICAL EXPENSES. PAYMENTS BY FISCAL YEAR ARE LISTED FROM 1966 TO 1977. DURING THIS PERIOD, THE AMOUNT OF TOTAL AWARDS HAS INCREASED FROM $35,012 TO $5,052,395. THE TOTAL NUMBER OF DECISIONS RENDERED IN 1977-1978 WAS 4,539, AN INCREASE BY 921 OR 25 PERCENT OVER THE PREVIOUS FISCAL YEAR. REASONS FOR NO-AWARD DECISIONS ARE GIVEN, WITH FAILURE TO SUPPLY INFORMATION OR COOPERATE WITH THE BOARD CITED AS THE MOST FREQUENT REASON FOR NO AWARD BEING GRANTED. THE CLAIMS PROCESS IS DESCRIBED, AND PROVISIONS FOR EMERGENCY AWARDS ARE INDICATED. IT IS NOTED THAT DUE TO THE INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF APPLICATIONS RECEIVED BY THE BOARD, ADDITIONAL INVESTIGATIVE STAFF HAS BEEN PROVIDED, BRINGING THE TOTAL TO 17. WORKLOAD SUMMARIES ARE PROVIDED FOR EACH YEAR, FROM 1967 THROUGH 1977. THERE IS A BREAKDOWN OF CLAIMS ACCEPTED FROM MAJOR METROPOLITAN AREAS, WITH NEW YORK CITY SHOWING A PREPONDERANCE. WHILE THE NUMBER OF CLAIMS HAS INCREASED, IT IS INDICATED THAT THERE ARE SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCES IN THE PROPORTION OF VIOLENT CRIME VICTIMS FILING CLAIMS IN VARIOUS COUNTIES, AND THE GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION IS SHOWN. SOME EXAMPLES OF CASES THAT HAVE COME BEFORE THE BOARD WITHIN THE PAST YEAR ARE BRIEFLY DESCRIBED. THERE IS ALSO A BREAKDOWN OF CASES BY TYPES OF CRIME AND THE AGE AND SEX STATISTICS OF CLAIMS ACCEPTED. SOME NEW DIRECTIONS ARE INDICATED AND LEGISLATIVE PROPOSALS RELATING TO VICTIM COMPENSATION FOR 1978-79 ARE LISTED. (RCB)