Community Awareness Project Grant to be used to promote crime victims' rights and services during National Crime Victims' Rights Week

PROVIDENCE 1/27/2009 - General Treasurer Frank T. Caprio announced today the Rhode Island Crime Victim Compensation Fund has received $4,696 in funding from the National Association of VOCA Assistance Administrators via a grant from the Office for Victims of Crime (OVC), U.S. Department of Justice.

The Rhode Island Crime Victim Compensation Fund was created to help victims with the many costs associated with violent crime. The program provides financial compensation to crime victims for such expenses as medical bills, loss of earnings and funeral expenses, up to $25,000. The fund is administered by the Office of the General Treasurer.

"The federal funding will help to promote community awareness of crime victims' rights and services and to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the enactment of the U.S. Victims of Crime Act during 2009 National Crime Victims' Rights Week," said Treasurer Caprio.

The week of April 26 - May 2, 2009 is National Crime Victims' Rights Week, which was first designated by President Ronald Reagan in 1981. This annual observance seeks to increase public awareness of, and knowledge among crime victims and survivors about, the wide range of rights and services available to people who have been victimized by crime. The theme for 2009 National Crime Victims' Rights Week is "25 Years of Rebuilding Lives: Celebrating the Victims of Crime Act."

"In 1999 the Rhode Island Crime Victim Compensation Fund was one of the worst in the nation," said Treasurer Caprio. "Since Judy Farley came on board in 2002 as director, the program has evolved into one of the nation's best and has provided important financial comfort to many who have been victims of violent crime. Innocent victims who have suffered personal, physical or emotional injury in a violent crime in Rhode Island, as well as dependents and family members of homicide victims, are all eligible for this service," said Caprio.

The Victims of Crime Act was enacted in 1984 to provide financial support for state crime victim compensation and victim assistance programs. The Act created the Crime Victims' Fund through which more than $9 billion has been collected from federal criminal fines and other penalties, instead of taxpayer dollars, to support victim services.

Through the provision of funding for Community Awareness Projects and its sponsorship of a Resource Guide to help thousands of victim assistance and allied professional organizations promote the Week, the Office for Victims of Crime seeks to increase general public understanding of crime victims' rights and concerns, and to educate crime victims and survivors about resources available to help them.

Community Awareness Project funding encourages communities to collaborate on victim and public awareness activities, and develop innovative approaches to victim outreach and public education about victims' rights and services during National Crime Victims' Rights Week and throughout the year.

"Community Awareness Projects held this spring in Rhode Island will go a long way in raising public awareness about crime victims' rights and services in our state. The grant from the U.S. government enables us to promote these important services statewide," Director Farley said.

Events planned in Rhode Island in conjunction with National Crime Victims' Rights Week include: a motorcycle rally; an event at the Providence Children's Museum; a public recognition ceremony at Rhode Island College; an event at the University of Rhode Island and a seminar at Roger Williams University, among others.

"The federal support for our 2009 National Crime Victims' Rights Week activities will help us help crime victims in our community," said Caprio. "Rhode Islanders are encouraged to help promote justice through service to crime victims by joining our 2009 National Crime Victims' Rights Week activities and supporting victim assistance programs throughout the year," General Treasurer Caprio continued.

For additional information about 2009 National Crime Victims' Rights Week activities or about victims' rights and services in Rhode Island, please contact Tim Gray in the Office of General Treasurer or visit our web site at www.treasury.ri.gov.

Federal fiscal year 2008 statistics from the RI Crime Victim Compensation Fund:

Number of new claims received during reporting period: 441; Number of claims approved as eligible: 337; Number approved claims for victims 17 and under: 91; Number approved claims for victims 18 to 64: 245; Number approved claims for victims 65 and older: 5

Federal Fiscal year 2008 payment statistics by Crime Category (Claims filed and amount paid out):

Assault: 203 $726,977; Homicide: 35 $295,199; Sexual Assault: 19 $86,085; Child Abuse (including sexual & physical abuse): 32 $460,415; Other Vehicular Crimes: 15 $90,869; DWI/DUI: 9 $57,427; Robbery: 8 $26,973; Station Nightclub Fire: 3 $9,494; Total: 324 $1,753,439

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