NCVRW: 25 years of rebuilding lives Published May 11, 2009 By James Mauriello 90th Missile Wing Judge Advocate Office F.E. WARREN AIR FORCE BASE, Wyo. -- During the 2009 National Crime Victims' Rights Week, Sunday through Saturday, the nation celebrated 25 years of helping crime victims rebuild their lives by recognizing the 1984 Victims of Crime Act. This act was, and is to this day, instrumental in facilitating crime victim rights across the nation. Prior to this act, there were very few means for victims to obtain restitution for the criminal harms they suffered. VOCA created a federal victims-compensation account funded by fines assessed in federal criminal convictions and established provisions to assist state programs that compensated the victims of crime. VOCA was a direct result of a Justice Department task force under former President Ronald Reagan. The task force identified inadequate resources and ineffective programs for victims' compensation. The act also established the crime victims fund, a non-taxpayer funding source, supported by all fines or forfeited bonds collected from persons who have been convicted of offenses against the United States. The crime victims fund continues to provide support to state victim compensation and community victim assistance programs throughout the United States. This fund has grown from $62 million in 1985 to more than $1 billion in 2007. The fund provides support to crime victims in our local community through law enforcement agencies, court systems, shelters and crisis lines. In 2007, across the U.S., medical expenses supported by the fund constituted 51 percent of all victim compensation payments and another 8 percent went toward mental health counseling for crime victims. Victim compensation programs also paid $22.9 million for forensic sexual assault exams in 2007, a 10 percent increase from 2006. Without VOCA, victims and their communities would suffer additional victimization by having to directly fund support measures to rebuild their lives. Although VOCA is instrumental in the progress for victims' rights, it is not the only legislation celebrated during National Crime Victims' Rights Week. The Victims' Rights and Restitution Act of 1990 incorporates a Bill of Rights for federal crime victims and codifies services that should be available to victims. Most people know they have the constitutional right against self-incrimination but don't know they have legal rights as a victim of a crime. The federal Bill of Rights directs that all victims have the right to be treated with fairness and with respect for their dignity and privacy; to be reasonably protected from the offender; to be notified of court proceedings; to be present at all court proceedings related to the offense; to confer with the attorney for the government's case; to be informed of the offender's conviction, sentencing and release; and to available financial compensation or restitution for losses caused by the crime. As 25 years of helping crime victims rebuild their lives with the help of the 1984 Victims of Crime Act is celebrated, let's remember victims don't ask to be victims. For more information about victims rights, visit http://www.ncvc.org or call 773-6052.