Apr 10th 2008, 07:42

Gov't Gives Financial Relief to Mugging Victims

Even though many victims of street crime are lucky to get away unharmed, most of them can't help thinking of how they lost their hard-earned money or valuables to a mugger lurking in some unnamed alley. To make up for their losses, the Crime Victims Fund was established to help innocent victims recover - at least financially - from their experience.

The funds available for the program are not sourced from taxpayer's money, but are pooled instead from offenders themselves through criminal fines, forfeited bail bonds, penalty fees, and forfeited literary profits. Each year, the government allocates a portion of this fund to every state, and some of this money is distributed to victims as direct cash payments. The payments are normally used to make up for costs incurred from or related to the crimes committed.

Victims of other violent crimes such as sexual offenses, child abuse, or even murder are also qualified to receive assistance through the Crime Victims Fund. Although property damage and losses are not directly covered by the program, the state is willing to shoulder other expenses, including medical costs, funeral and burial costs, mental health counseling, as well as lost wages or the loss of financial support.

Up to $25,000 can be awarded to victims, although some states will only give a ceiling amount of $10,000. Victims will usually need to report crimes to the proper authorities within three days of the offense, in addition to filing claims within a set period. More information about the program can be gathered from the Office for Victims of Crime in the U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, D.C.

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