Delaware News

Revamped Victims’ Compensation Program moves to Attorney General’s Office

Criminal Division | Department of Justice | Department of Justice Press Releases | Date Posted: Monday, August 3, 2009



The Delaware Attorney General’s Office today applauded Governor Markell for signing House Bill 253. This legislation, signed into law last Friday, transfers the Victims’ Compensation Assistance Program to the Department of Justice, streamlines the compensation process for innocent victims of crime, and provides Delawareans statewide with local access to victim compensation services.

“We welcome the addition of the Victims’ Compensation Assistance Program to the Delaware
Department of Justice,” stated Chief Deputy Attorney General Richard S. Gebelein. “We are working
swiftly to implement this legislation in order to enhance critical statewide support to innocent victims
of crime.”

Governor Jack Markell stated, “Victims of violent crime deserve to be fairly compensated. This
new law increases the state’s efforts to help victims heal and rebuild their lives.”
The Victims’ Compensation Assistance Program (VCAP), formerly called the Violent Crimes
Compensation Board, is funded through penalties paid by individuals convicted of a criminal act or
adjudicated as a delinquent.
The revamped VCAP is comprised of:
• An Executive Director and other professional staff charged with reviewing and awarding
claims for financial compensation made by innocent victims of crime.
• A newly-established Advisory Council whose members will include representatives from the
Attorney General’s Office, Victim’s Rights Task Force, Domestic Violence Task Force, Sexual
Assault Network of Delaware, the medical profession, the mental health profession, law
enforcement, as well as members of the public from the City of Wilmington, New Castle
County, Kent County, and Sussex County. The Council is charged with serving in an advisory
capacity and developing rules and regulations for the VCAP.
• An Appeals Board, consisting of five members appointed by the Governor and approved by the
Senate, which has the authority to affirm, reverse or modify VCAP compensation decisions and
participate in the awarding emergency assistance.
Through its integration into the Delaware Department of Justice, VCAP information and
services will be available to the public through the Department’s three offices in Wilmington, Dover,
and Georgetown. VCAP services complement the Department’s existing Victim/Witness Services
Program, whose social workers and administrative staff support victims of crime and their families by
providing notification of scheduled events relating to criminal prosecutions, referral services, and
assistance with the criminal justice process.
House Bill 253 was sponsored by Representative John A. Kowalko (Newark South) and
Senator David Sokola (Newark).
# # #

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Revamped Victims’ Compensation Program moves to Attorney General’s Office

Criminal Division | Department of Justice | Department of Justice Press Releases | Date Posted: Monday, August 3, 2009



The Delaware Attorney General’s Office today applauded Governor Markell for signing House Bill 253. This legislation, signed into law last Friday, transfers the Victims’ Compensation Assistance Program to the Department of Justice, streamlines the compensation process for innocent victims of crime, and provides Delawareans statewide with local access to victim compensation services.

“We welcome the addition of the Victims’ Compensation Assistance Program to the Delaware
Department of Justice,” stated Chief Deputy Attorney General Richard S. Gebelein. “We are working
swiftly to implement this legislation in order to enhance critical statewide support to innocent victims
of crime.”

Governor Jack Markell stated, “Victims of violent crime deserve to be fairly compensated. This
new law increases the state’s efforts to help victims heal and rebuild their lives.”
The Victims’ Compensation Assistance Program (VCAP), formerly called the Violent Crimes
Compensation Board, is funded through penalties paid by individuals convicted of a criminal act or
adjudicated as a delinquent.
The revamped VCAP is comprised of:
• An Executive Director and other professional staff charged with reviewing and awarding
claims for financial compensation made by innocent victims of crime.
• A newly-established Advisory Council whose members will include representatives from the
Attorney General’s Office, Victim’s Rights Task Force, Domestic Violence Task Force, Sexual
Assault Network of Delaware, the medical profession, the mental health profession, law
enforcement, as well as members of the public from the City of Wilmington, New Castle
County, Kent County, and Sussex County. The Council is charged with serving in an advisory
capacity and developing rules and regulations for the VCAP.
• An Appeals Board, consisting of five members appointed by the Governor and approved by the
Senate, which has the authority to affirm, reverse or modify VCAP compensation decisions and
participate in the awarding emergency assistance.
Through its integration into the Delaware Department of Justice, VCAP information and
services will be available to the public through the Department’s three offices in Wilmington, Dover,
and Georgetown. VCAP services complement the Department’s existing Victim/Witness Services
Program, whose social workers and administrative staff support victims of crime and their families by
providing notification of scheduled events relating to criminal prosecutions, referral services, and
assistance with the criminal justice process.
House Bill 253 was sponsored by Representative John A. Kowalko (Newark South) and
Senator David Sokola (Newark).
# # #

image_printPrint


Graphic that represents delaware news on a mobile phone

Keep up to date by receiving a daily digest email, around noon, of current news release posts from state agencies on news.delaware.gov.

Here you can subscribe to future news updates.