Alaska's crime victims have been served more effectively and efficiently due to the influx of VOCA funds. These funds are integral to the success of Alaska's crime victim compensation program. The funds represent the very successful partnership that Alaska's crime victims have benefitted from between the State of Alaska and the Department of Justice. The Alaska compensation program seeks to ensure an equality of service to Alaska's crime victims irregradless of their home community or location of crime. The funds have allowed the Alaska compensation program to reach into the smallest and most remote of Alaska's village communities to serve innocent crime victims and their families. The funds have made services available to victims living in remote locations who would have, otherwise, not been served. The funds have allowed the program to expand eligible benefits to include such things as childcare, security measures, job training, transportation, lodging, and food costs related to receipt of counseling service and criminal proceeding attendance.  

The program has instituted a number of performance measures. For example, one of the program goals is to reduce the financial hardship inflicted upon crime victims caused by medical bills. One program strategy has been to negotiate settlements with medical service providers on all bills in excess of $5,000. The program's efforts have resulted in tremendous cost savings, significant reduction in victim financial hardship through credit salvation, and the development of partnerships with key medical facility personnel to facilitate effective social service programs. In addition, many medical providers elected to write off the entire amount once they learned of the victim's circumstances.    





The program received the coveted Victims for Justice Substantial Services to Victims award during this time period in recognition of diligent efforts to make a difference in victim restoration.