THE COMPENSATION BOARD WAS ESTABLISHED IN 1972 TO FACILITATE THE PAYMENT OF COMPENSATION TO INNOCENT PERSONS INJURED, TO DEPENDENTS OF PERSONS KILLED, AND TO CERTAIN OTHER PERSONS WHO BY VIRTUE OF THEIR RELATIONSHIP TO THE VICTIM OF A CRIME INCUR ACTUAL AND REASONABLE EXPENSES AS THE RESULT OF CERTAIN SERIOUS CRIMES OR AS THE RESULT OF EFFORTS TO PREVENT CRIME OR APPREHEND THE CRIMINAL. AFTER THE RECEIPT OF A CLAIM BY THE COMPENSATION BOARD, IT IS NECESSARY TO DETERMINE MINIMUM ELIGIBILITY. COMPLIANCE WITH CERTAIN STATUTORY REQUIREMENTS MUST BE DEMONSTRATED. FEW CLAIMS ARE RECEIVED THAT CAN BE IMMEDIATELY DETERMINED AS ELIGIBLE. IT IS NOT DIFFICULT, HOWEVER, TO REACH AN IMMEDIATE DECISION AS TO ELIGIBILITY ON A CLAIM WHERE A WIDOW AND HER CHILDREN HAVE LOST THEIR MAIN SUPPORT THROUGH INNOCENT CIRCUMSTANCES. IN ALL CASES, CLAIMANTS ARE INSTRUCTED TO ATTACH THE NECESSARY DOCUMENTATION. THE COMPENSATION BOARD HAS STRESSED THE PUBLICITY OF THE CLAIMS PROGRAM BY DISTRIBUTING BROCHURES AND POSTERS THROUGHOUT THE STATE. DATA ON THE COST OF ADMINISTERING THE CLAIMS ACCORDING TO NUMBER OF CLAIMS FILED (HOMICIDE, STABBING, ARMED ROBBERY, SHOOTING, OTHER ASSAULT, AND RAPE), APPLICATIONS FOR COMPENSATION AND AWARDS, AND THE ACTUAL NUMBER OF CRIMES REPORTED IN ALASKA FOR THE 1973-1977 PERIOD ARE TABULATED. DESCRIPTIONS OF CLAIMS SUBMITTED TO THE COMPENSATION BOARD IN 1977 ARE INCLUDED. (DEP)