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VICTIMS OF CRIME ACT STATE COMPENSATION PROGRAM 2002 MASSACHUSETTS STATEWIDE COMPENSATION PROGRAM Prepared By: Massachusetts Department of the Attorney General One Ashburton Place Room 1811 Boston, MA 02108-1698 tel: (617)727-2200
CLAIMS DATA
1. NUMBER OF NEW CLAIMS RECEIVED DURING REPORTING PERIOD a. Total claims, if only one claim is usually counted per crime: 0 OR b. Total claims, if victims and indirect victims generally count as separate items: 1,799 2. NUMBER OF CLAIMS APPROVED AS ELIGIBLE: 1,687 (a) Number of Victims 17 and Under 287 (b) Number approved for victims 18 - 64 1,366 (c) Number approved for victims 65 and Older 34 3. NUMBER OF FORENSIC SEXUAL ASSAULT EXAMINATION CLAIMS RECEIVED DURING THE REPORT PERIOD. IF SUCH CLAIMS ARE HANDLED THROUGH SEPARATE CLAIMS PROCEDURE. (See Instructions) 0
PAYMENT STATISTICS BY CRIME CATEGORY:
a. b. c. TYPE OF CRIME NUMBER OF CLAIMS NUMBER OF DOMESTIC TOTAL AMOUNT PAID PAID DURING VIOLENCE RELATED BY CATEGORY REPORTING PERIOD CLAIMS PAID DURING Including all supple- Includes Column b REPORTING PERIOD mental payments
1. ASSAULT 753 310 1,524,519 2. HOMICIDE 223 16 767,000 3. SEXUAL ASSAULT 175 15 227,246 4. CHILD ABUSE (Including sexual & physical abuse) 177 166,083 5. DWI/DUI 33 253,966 6. 0THER VEHICULAR CRIMES 20 37,067 7. STALKING 14 10 8,807 8. ROBBERY 8 0 12,690 9. TERRORISM 42 520,459 10. KIDNAPPING 11 2 11,564 11. ARSON 1 1 50 12. OTHER 18 11 25,288 TOTAL 1,475 364 3,554,739
INDICATE TOTAL EXPENSES PAID BY SERVICE
1. MEDICAL/DENTAL (Except Mental Health) 681,306 2. MENTAL HEALTH 586,321 3. ECONOMIC SUPPORT (Lost Wages, Loss of Support) 1,866,952 4. FUNERAL/BURIAL (Including all Funeral Related Expenses 402,021 5. CRIME SCENE CLEAN-UP 0 6. FORENSIC SEXUAL ASSAULT EXAMS 0 7. OTHER 18,139 8. TOTAL 3,554,739
Please respond to the following questions additional 8x11 sheets may be attached if necessary 1. DESCRIBE THE IMPACT THAT VOCA FUNDS HAVE HAD ON YOUR PROGRAM'S ABILITY TO MEET THE NEEDS OF CRIME VICTIMS. Section III Other Threats, Violations of reststraining orders. Section IV Other Homemaker expenses ====== VOCA funds enable this program to provide financial assistance to more victims of violent crime than we would otherwise be able to compensate from existing state funds. For the past ten years, we have received an increased number of claims from victims and families who seek compensation assistance. Since 1995, the program has had a 60% increase in the number of compensation claims received, from 1077 to 1799. The program is able to handle this increase in financial assistance through the use of VOCA funds. In past years, many victims had to wait several months to be compensated due to insufficient funding.2. HOW DO YOU MEASURE YOUR PROGRAM'S EFFICIENCY AND EFFECTIVENESS IN REDUCING THE FINANCIAL IMPACTH OF CRIME ON VICTIMS? WHAT ARE THE RESULTS? Our average time for processing a claim has increased from 22.78 weeks to approximately 26 weeks. This average was obtained as an estimate due to the implementation of a new automation system. Processing time has increased this year due to staffing shortages as a result of budget cuts and due to an increase in the number of claims received. In addition, we send each claimant a satisfaction survey. Responses from the surveys which are returned to us are overwhelmingly positive. From these responses, we have adopted changes suggested by claimants. As a result, we are better able to address the stated needs of each individual.
3. DID YOUR STATE USE VOCA ADMINSTRATIVE FUNDS? YES IF YOUR STATE USED VOCA ADMINSTRATIVE FUNDS, PLEASE DESCRIBE THE IMPACT THESE FUNDS HAVE HAD ON YOUR STATE'S ABILITY TO PROVIDE COMPENSATION OR IMPROVE VICTIM SERVICES. Through the use of VOCA funds, staff are able to attend the National Victim Compensation conference, the Regional Victim Compensation conference and the NOVA conference where they learn the most up-to-date information to improve services to crime victims in Massachusetts. During this fiscal year, we purchased and installed a new automation system which will enable us to process claims more expeditiously. In addition, VOCA funding has allowed us to produce outreach materials to increase awareness of our program throughout the state, particularly within the domestic violence community and in rural areas, reaching the state's most vulnerable population.