Recovery Act: Victims Compensation

The Georgia Crime Victims Compensation Program applied and received $1,015,976.00 in 2009 from Recovery Act Victims of Crime Act/Victim Compensation Formula Grant Funds. These funds were received to assist the State of Georgia in the crucial efforts of providing financial assistance to victims of crime. There were 316 claims in the amount of $965,177 utilized to provide benefits in the categories of medical expense, mental health counseling, loss of wages, funeral expenses, and crime scene clean up.

In addition, CJCC utilized 5% of the funds to hire a Training and Outreach Coordinator. The Training and Outreach Coordinator is responsible for addressing the training needs of advocacy groups, service providers and law enforcement. This position is also tasked with increasing public awareness of the program by working with organizations and service providers unfamiliar with the Crime Victims Compensation Program. To endorse this goal, additional program materials will be developed, existing materials will be modified and the program will be marketed. All of these efforts are being done to increase program awareness, which ultimately should lead to an increase in the number of eligible victims applying for and receiving Crime Victim Compensation benefits.