Compensate Victims of School Violence Victims of school-based violence often do not have access to crime victim compensation, as crimes are handled through administrative proceedings rather than the criminal justice system. The National Center will encourage states to extend eligibility for compensation benefits to victims of crimes committed on school property or at school-sponsored activities. Institute Victims' Rights in School Administrative Proceedings Victims of school-based violence must have the right to be treated with fairness, dignity, and respect from the school administration. Particular attention must be paid to the victim's safety when the victim and the perpetrator remain in the school system. The National Center will work to raise awareness of this issue and identify model approaches.
Many college campuses handle campus crime through internal, disciplinary proceedings.
The National Center believes that victims of campus crime should have a basic set of legal rights during such proceedings, similar to the rights in the federal campus sexual assault victims' bill of rights, that extends to all victims and includes notice of appellate proceedings and outcomes. Compensate All Victims of Drunk Driving Many cases of suspected drunk driving cannot be proven because the perpetrator leaves the scene of the crash before a blood alcohol test can be conducted. Without such evidence, drunk drivers may only be charged with hit and run. Because of this, many drunk driving victims have found themselves ineligible for crime victim compensation. The National Center will promote amending crime victim compensation laws to include victims of hit and run crashes.