THE BOARD WAS ESTABLISHED IN 1966 TO COMPENSATE INNOCENT VICTIMS OF VIOLENT CRIMES WHO ARE INJURED, DISABLED, OR KILLED AS A RESULT OF CRIMINAL ACTS. AWARDS ARE INTENDED TO REIMBURSE THE CLAIMANT FOR OUT-OF-POCKET UNREIMBURSED MEDICAL EXPENSES AND/OR EARNINGS, AND, IN THE EVENT OF DEATH, TO REIMBURSE THE CLAIMANT FOR OUT-OF-POCKET UNREIMBURSED FUNERAL EXPENSES AND/OR LOSS OF SUPPORT. AWARDS ARE LIMITED TO VICTIMS AND THEIR DEPENDENTS WHO SUFFER SERIOUS FINANCIAL HARDSHIP AS A RESULT OF INJURY. THE MAXIMUM AMOUNT IS $20,000 PER CLAIMANT FOR LOSS OF EARNINGS OR SUPPORT AND UNLIMITED AMOUNTS FOR MEDICAL EXPENSES. ADDITIONALLY, ANY AWARD MADE FOR FUNERAL EXPENSES IS LIMITED TO $1,500. IN 1978-1979, BOARD EXPENDITURES TOTALED OVER $6 MILLION, THE NUMBER OF DECISIONS INCREASED BY 1,554 OR 34 PERCENT OVER THE PREVIOUS FISCAL YEAR, AND THE FAILURE TO SUPPLY INFORMATION OR COOPERATE WITH THE BOARD WAS THE MOST FREQUENT REASON FOR NO AWARD BEING GRANTED. COMMENTS ARE INCLUDED ON THE CLAIMS PROCESS, PROVISIONS FOR EMERGENCY AWARDS, BOARD REVIEW OF DECISIONS, AND REVIEW BY OTHER STATE OFFICIALS. THE NUMBER OF CLAIMS RECEIVED DURING 1978-1979 INCREASED 15 PERCENT OVER LAST YEAR DUE, IN PART, TO THE AVAILABILITY OF CLAIM FORMS AND INFORMATION BROCHURES FOR VICTIMS. MOST CLAIMS COME FROM THE NEW YORK CITY AREA, FOLLOWED BY BUFFALO. EXAMPLES OF CASES IN WHICH VICTIMS HAVE BEEN COMPENSATED ARE INCLUDED. ADDITIONAL DISCUSSION FOCUSES ON THE BOARD'S OUTREACH ACTIVITIES, NEW DIRECTIONS, AND LEGISLATIVE PROPOSALS FOR 1979-1980. A LAW ENACTED IN 1977 AND RELATING TO THE DISPOSITION OF MONIES RECEIVED AS A RESULT OF A CRIME IS ALSO EXAMINED. CHARTS AND TABULAR DATA ARE INCLUDED. (WJR)