Valley victims compensated

Frontiersman reporter

MAT-SU -- Many Valley residents who were victims of violent crimes got money this year from a state program that provides compensation when there is no other source of payment.

The Violent Crimes Compensation Board received 39 claims during fiscal year 2003 from people living in Palmer, Wasilla, Big Lake and Houston. That was down from 71 Mat-Su claims during fiscal year 2002.

The board pays compensation for a variety of situations.

"This year, the program has paid financial losses incurred by Mat-Su Borough victims for medical costs for persons seriously injured by drunk drivers, and lost wages for victims who were unable to work due to emotional and physical harm," said program administrator Susan Brown.

Valley victims also were reimbursed this year for counseling costs for children who were sexually abused as well as counseling for their parents, and for costs to relocate families living in dangerous situations, she said.

"The board can award up to $40,000 for most violent crimes," Brown said during an interview. "For homicide deaths it's up to $80,000 if there are multiple dependents."

In 2003, Valley residents filed five claims based on sexual abuse of minor, 14 involving assaults, nine for homicide cases, five for driving while under the influence, four involving rape cases, and the rest for robbery and arson.

The program's award budget pays an average of 46 percent of a victim's out-of-pocket medical expenses, Brown said, as well as 34 percent of lost income to the victim and his or her family. The rest of the program's money is used to reimburse out-of-pocket payments for counseling, funeral, transportation and other costs related to the crime, she said.

To qualify for compensation, victims must report the crime to local law enforcement officials no more than five days after it happened. An application must be filed with the program within two years of the date of the crime.

It can take from three to six months to determine if the case qualifies for help through the board.

Compensation is given only to victims who have been physically or emotionally injured in a violent crime in Alaska, to victims of a drunken driver or when a car is used as a weapon, as well to dependents of a homicide victim. People also can get reimbursement if they incurred losses by virtue of their relationship to a victim, and when other compensation programs don't apply.

The board formerly operated as part of the state Department of Public Safety, but now is an arm of the Alaska Department of Administration.

Call 1-800-764-3040 for more information, or access the board's Web site at http://www.dps.state.ak.us/vccb/htm. The board's mailing address is Department of Administration, P.O. Box 110230, Juneau AK 99811-0230.