The Bulletin Online-Tx Legislature Robs Crime Victims of Comp. In 1989 the people of Texas spoke loudly when they passed by a 73 percent margin, an amendment to the Texas Constitution that would guarantee basic rights to Texans who become victimized by violent crime. In 1997, Texas passed a measure to constitutionally protect the Texas Crime Victims' Compensation Fund to prevent it from being allocated for purposes other than that of providing compensation and assistance to victims of violent crime. BIPP programs are most often administered by local domestic violence programs. BIPPs include counseling for offenders who batter to teach them a nonviolent lifestyle in the hope of lessening revictimization of their victims.
Funds is clearly a violation of the Texas Constitution.
The Texas Constitution and related statutes clearly defines a victim of a violent crime and spells out the purposes for which CVC funds can be used. Most crime victims and their advocates across the state are outraged at this. No one is saying that Battering Intervention and Prevention Programs are without merit. Crime victims and concerned Texans are encouraged to contact their state representatives and state senators to help make sure that the Texas Crime Victims' Compensation Fund is used as it was constitutionally intended.