National Evaluation of State Victims of Crime Act Compensation and Assistance Programs: Findings and Recommendations From a National Survey of State Administrators (From Violence Against Women and Family Violence: Developments in Research, Practice, and Policy, 2004, Bonnie Fisher, ed. -- See NCJ-199701

Because State compensation and assistance programs are two distinct types of programs and have distinctive policy and administrations issues, findings and recommendations are presented for each type of program. Regarding State compensation programs, findings from performance data and the survey of administrators show that compensation programs are generally financially sound and are functioning in compliance with specified goals and standards. States are apparently performing the essential activities of sound financial planning, outreach, claims processing and decisionmaking, coordination with victim assistance programs, program administration, and training; however, more advanced activities could be implemented in each of these areas to further enhance program functioning and services to victims. This paper offers recommendations for advanced activities in financial planning, outreach to victims, claims processing and decisionmaking, coordination, program administration, and training. Findings indicate that State VOCA victim assistance programs are generally functioning well in a number of performance areas. The most pressing problem facing State administrators is the difficulty of long-range planning under significant fluctuations in funding levels from year to year. Mechanisms for "smoothing" allocation fluctuations should be developed as needed. Recommendations for victim assistance programs are also offered in the areas of strategic planning, needs assessments, outreach to service providers and underserved populations, coordination, and support for administration and training. 3 references