The Kansas Crime Victims Compensation Board has awarded financial assistance to 212 victims of violent crime at its April meeting. Awards were made in 123 new cases. Additional expenses were paid in 89 previously submitted cases. The awards totaled almost 167,000 dollars.
The Crime Victims Compensation program was established in 1978 to help victims of violent crime pay for their unexpected expenses. Expenses covered include medical treatment, mental health counseling, lost wages, dependent support, and funeral expenses.
Awards are limited to a maximum total amount of $25,000, with limitations of $5,000 for funeral expense, $5,000 for outpatient mental health counseling, $10,000 for inpatient mental health treatment, and $1,500 for grief counseling for family survivors of homicide victims. A portion of assessed court costs and fines, inmate wages, parole fees, and restitution paid by convicted offenders provides funding to the program.
