34 U.S.C. § 20102 (CRIME CONTROL AND LAW ENFORCEMENT)
§ 20102. Crime victim compensation
(a) Authority of Director; grants
(1) Except as provided in paragraph (2), the Director shall make an annual grant from the Fund to an eligible crime victim compensation program of 75 percent of the amounts awarded during the preceding fiscal year, other than amounts awarded for property damage. Except as provided in paragraph (4), a grant under this section shall be used by such program only for awards of compensation.
(2) If the sums available in the Fund for grants under this section are insufficient to provide grants as provided in paragraph (1), the Director shall make, from the sums available, a grant to each eligible crime victim compensation program so that all such programs receive the same percentage of the amounts awarded by such program during the preceding fiscal year, other than amounts awarded for property damage.
(3) For the purposes of calculating amounts awarded in the previous fiscal year under this subsection, the Director shall not require eligible crime victim compensation programs to deduct recovery costs or collections from restitution or from subrogation for payment under a civil lawsuit.
(4) Not more than 5 percent of a grant made under this section may be used for training purposes and the administration of the State crime victim compensation program receiving the grant.
(b) Eligible crime victim compensation programs
A crime victim compensation program is an eligible crime victim compensation program for the purposes of this section if—
(1) such program is operated by a State and offers compensation to victims and survivors of victims of criminal violence, including drunk driving and domestic violence for—
(A) medical expenses attributable to a physical injury resulting from compensable crime, including expenses for mental health counseling and care;
(B) loss of wages attributable to a physical injury resulting from a compensable crime; and
(C) funeral expenses attributable to a death resulting from a compensable crime;
(2) such program promotes victim cooperation with the reasonable requests of law enforcement authorities, except if a program determines such cooperation may be impacted due to a victim’s age, physical condition, psychological state, cultural or linguistic barriers, or any other health or safety concern that jeopardizes the victim’s wellbeing;
(3) such State certifies that grants received under this section will not be used to supplant State funds otherwise available to provide crime victim compensation;
(4) such program, as to compensable crimes occurring within the State, makes compensation awards to victims who are nonresidents of the State on the basis of the same criteria used to make awards to victims who are residents of such State;
(5) such program provides compensation to victims of Federal crimes occurring within the State on the same basis that such program provides compensation to victims of State crimes;
(6) such program provides compensation to residents of the State who are victims of crimes occurring outside the State if—
(A) the crimes would be compensable crimes had they occurred inside that State; and
(B) the places the crimes occurred in are States not having eligible crime victim compensation programs;
(7) such program does not, except pursuant to rules issued by the program to prevent unjust enrichment of the offender, deny compensation to any victim because of that victim’s familial relationship to the offender, or because of the sharing of a residence by the victim and the offender;
(8) such program does not provide compensation to any person who has been convicted of an offense under Federal law with respect to any time period during which the person is delinquent in paying a fine, other monetary penalty, or restitution imposed for the offense;
(9) beginning not later than 3 years after March 15, 2022, such program—
(A) provides a waiver for any application filing deadline imposed by the program for a crime victim if—
(i) the crime victim is otherwise eligible for compensation; and
(ii) the delay in filing the application was a result of a delay in the testing of, or a delay in the DNA profile matching from, a sexual assault forensic examination kit or biological material collected as evidence related to a sexual offense; and
(B) does not require the crime victim to undergo an appeals process to have the application of the crime victim considered for a filing deadline waiver under subparagraph (A); and
(10) such program provides such other information and assurances related to the purposes of this section as the Director may reasonably require.
(c) Exclusion from income, resources, and assets for purposes of means tests
Notwithstanding any other law (other than title IV of Public Law 107–42), for the purpose of any maximum allowed income, resource, or asset eligibility requirement in any Federal, State, or local government program using Federal funds that provides medical or other assistance (or payment or reimbursement of the cost of such assistance), any amount of crime victim compensation that the applicant receives through a crime victim compensation program under this section shall not be included in the income, resources, or assets of the applicant, nor shall that amount reduce the amount of the assistance available to the applicant from Federal, State, or local government programs using Federal funds, unless the total amount of assistance that the applicant receives from all such programs is sufficient to fully compensate the applicant for losses suffered as a result of the crime.
(d) Definitions
As used in this section—
(1) the term “property damage” does not include damage to prosthetic devices, eyeglasses or other corrective lenses, or dental devices;
(2) the term “medical expenses” includes, to the extent provided under the eligible crime victim compensation program, expenses for eyeglasses or other corrective lenses, for dental services and devices and prosthetic devices, and for services rendered in accordance with a method of healing recognized by the law of the State;
(3) the term “compensable crime” means a crime the victims of which are eligible for compensation under the eligible crime victim compensation program, and includes crimes, whose victims suffer death or personal injury, that are described in section 247 of title 18, driving while intoxicated, and domestic violence;
(4) the term “State” includes the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the United States Virgin Islands, and any other possession or territory of the United States; and
(5) the term “recovery costs” means expenses for personnel directly involved in the recovery efforts to obtain collections from restitution or from subrogation for payment under a civil law suit.
(e) Relationship to certain Federal programs
Notwithstanding any other law, if the compensation paid by an eligible crime victim compensation program would cover costs that a Federal program, including the program established under title IV of Public Law 107–42, or a federally financed State or local program, would otherwise pay,— 1
(1) such crime victim compensation program shall not pay that compensation; and
(2) the other program shall make its payments without regard to the existence of the crime victim compensation program.
(Pub. L. 98–473, title II, § 1403, Oct. 12, 1984, 98 Stat. 2171; Pub. L. 100–690, title VII, §§ 7123(b)(1)–(3), 7125, 7126, Nov. 18, 1988, 102 Stat. 4421–4423; Pub. L. 103–322, title XXIII, §§ 230202, 230203, title XXXIII, § 330025(b), Sept. 13, 1994, 108 Stat. 2079, 2151; Pub. L. 104–132, title II, §§ 233(a), (b), 234(a)(1), (b), Apr. 24, 1996, 110 Stat. 1244, 1245; Pub. L. 104–155, § 5, July 3, 1996, 110 Stat. 1394; Pub. L. 107–56, title VI, § 622(a)–(e)(1), Oct. 26, 2001, 115 Stat. 371, 372; Pub. L. 109–162, title XI, § 1133(a), Jan. 5, 2006, 119 Stat. 3108; Pub. L. 117–27, § 2(b), July 22, 2021, 135 Stat. 301; Pub. L. 117–103, div. W, title XIII, §§ 1311, 1316(b), Mar. 15, 2022, 136 Stat. 935, 939.)
heading: Editorial Notes
heading: References in Text
text: Title IV of Public Law 107–42, referred to in subsecs. (c) and (e), is set out as a note under section 40101 of Title 49, Transportation.
heading: Codification
text: Section was formerly classified to section 10602 of Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare, prior to editorial reclassification and renumbering as this section.
heading: Amendments
text: 2022—Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 117–103, § 1311, substituted “paragraph (4)” for “paragraph (3)”.
Subsec. (b)(9), (10). Pub. L. 117–103, § 1316(b), added par. (9) and redesignated former par. (9) as (10).
2021—Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 117–27, § 2(b)(1)(A), substituted “75 percent” for “40 percent in fiscal year 2002 and of 60 percent in subsequent fiscal years”.
Subsec. (a)(2). Pub. L. 117–27, § 2(b)(1)(B), struck out “of 40 percent in fiscal year 2002 and of 60 percent in subsequent fiscal years” after “to provide grants”.
Subsec. (a)(3), (4). Pub. L. 117–27, § 2(b)(1)(C), (D), added par. (3) and redesignated former par. (3) as (4).
Subsec. (b)(2). Pub. L. 117–27, § 2(b)(2), substituted “authorities, except if a program determines such cooperation may be impacted due to a victim’s age, physical condition, psychological state, cultural or linguistic barriers, or any other health or safety concern that jeopardizes the victim’s wellbeing;” for “authorities;”.
Subsec. (d)(5). Pub. L. 117–27, § 2(b)(3), added par. (5).
2006—Subsec. (a)(3). Pub. L. 109–162 inserted “training purposes and” after “may be used for”.
2001—Subsec. (a)(1), (2). Pub. L. 107–56, § 622(a), inserted “in fiscal year 2002 and of 60 percent in subsequent fiscal years” after “40 percent”.
Subsec. (b)(6)(B). Pub. L. 107–56, § 622(b), which directed striking out “are outside the United States (if the compensable crime is terrorism, as defined in section 2331 of title 18), or”, was executed by striking out “are outside of the United States (if the compensable crime is terrorism, as defined in section 2331 of title 18), or” after “the places the crimes occurred in” to reflect the probable intent of Congress.
Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 107–56, § 622(c), added subsec. (c) and struck out heading and text of former subsec. (c). Text read as follows: “Notwithstanding any other law, for the purpose of any maximum allowed income eligibility requirement in any Federal, State, or local government program using Federal funds that provides medical or other assistance (or payment or reimbursement of the cost of such assistance) that becomes necessary to an applicant for such assistance in full or in part because of the commission of a crime against the applicant, as determined by the Director, any amount of crime victim compensation that the applicant receives through a crime victim compensation program under this section shall not be included in the income of the applicant until the total amount of assistance that the applicant receives from all such programs is sufficient to fully compensate the applicant for losses suffered as a result of the crime.”
Subsec. (d)(3). Pub. L. 107–56, § 622(d)(1), struck out “crimes involving terrorism,” after “section 247 of title 18,”.
Subsec. (d)(4). Pub. L. 107–56, § 622(d)(2), inserted “the United States Virgin Islands,” after “the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico,”.
Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 107–56, § 622(e)(1), inserted “including the program established under title IV of Public Law 107–42,” after “Federal program,” in introductory provisions.
1996—Subsec. (b)(6)(B). Pub. L. 104–132, § 233(b), inserted “are outside of the United States (if the compensable crime is terrorism, as defined in section 2331 of title 18), or” before “are States not having”.
Subsec. (b)(8), (9). Pub. L. 104–132, § 234(a)(1), added par. (8) and redesignated former par. (8) as (9).
Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 104–132, § 234(b), added subsec. (c).
Subsec. (d)(3). Pub. L. 104–155 inserted “crimes, whose victims suffer death or personal injury, that are described in section 247 of title 18,” after “includes”.
Pub. L. 104–132, § 233(a), substituted “crimes involving terrorism, driving while intoxicated,” for “driving while intoxicated”.
1994—Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 103–322, § 230203(a), substituted “Except as provided in paragraph (3), a grant” for “A grant” in last sentence.
Subsec. (a)(3). Pub. L. 103–322, § 230203(b), added par. (3).
Subsec. (b)(1). Pub. L. 103–322, § 330025(b), inserted before semicolon at end “for—” and subpars. (A) to (C).
Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 103–322, § 230202, added subsec. (e).
1988—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 100–690, §§ 7123(b)(1), (2), 7125(b), substituted “Director” for “Attorney General” and “40 percent” for “35 percent” in pars. (1) and (2).
Subsec. (b)(1). Pub. L. 100–690, § 7125(c)(1), amended par. (1) generally. Prior to amendment, par. (1) read as follows: “such program is operated by a State and offers compensation to victims of crime and survivors of victims of crime for—
“(A) medical expenses attributable to a physical injury resulting from compensable crime, including expenses for mental health counseling and care;
“(B) loss of wages attributable to a physical injury resulting from a compensable crime; and
“(C) funeral expenses attributable to a death resulting from a compensable crime;”.
Subsec. (b)(5). Pub. L. 100–690, § 7125(d), amended par. (5) generally. Prior to amendment, par. (5) read as follows: “such program provides compensation to victims of crimes occurring within such State that would be compensable crimes, but for the fact that such crimes are subject to Federal jurisdiction, on the same basis that such program provides compensation to victims of compensable crimes; and”.
Subsec. (b)(6), (7). Pub. L. 100–690, § 7125(a)(1), added pars. (6) and (7). Former par. (6) redesignated (8).
Subsec. (b)(8). Pub. L. 100–690, §§ 7123(b)(3), 7125(a)(2), redesignated par. (6) as (8) and substituted “Director” for “Attorney General”.
Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 100–690, § 7125(e), struck out subsec. (c) which read as follows: “A State crime victim compensation program in effect on the date grants may first be made under this section shall be deemed an eligible crime victim compensation program for the purposes of this section until the day after the close of the first regular session of the legislature of that State that begins after such date.”
Subsec. (d)(1). Pub. L. 100–690, § 7126(a), inserted reference to eyeglasses or other corrective lenses.
Subsec. (d)(2). Pub. L. 100–690, § 7126(b), inserted reference to eyeglasses or other corrective lenses and inserted comma after “prosthetic devices”.
Subsec. (d)(3). Pub. L. 100–690, § 7125(c)(2), inserted reference to driving while intoxicated and domestic violence.
heading: Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
heading: Effective Date of 2022 Amendment
text: Amendment by Pub. L. 117–103 not effective until Oct. 1 of the first fiscal year beginning after Mar. 15, 2022, see section 4(a) of div. W of Pub. L. 117–103, set out as an Effective Date note under section 6851 of Title 15, Commerce and Trade.
heading: Effective Date of 1996 Amendment
text: Pub. L. 104–132, title II, § 233(d), Apr. 24, 1996, 110 Stat. 1245, as amended by Pub. L. 105–119, title I, § 120, Nov. 26, 1997, 111 Stat. 2468, provided that: “This section [amending this section] and the amendments made by this section shall take effect October 1, 1999.”
heading: Effective Date of 1988 Amendment
text: Amendment by Pub. L. 100–690 not applicable with respect to a State compensation program that was an eligible State crime victim compensation program on Nov. 18, 1988, until Oct. 1, 1991, see section 7129 of Pub. L. 100–690, as amended, set out as a note under section 20101 of this title.
heading: Application of Amendment by Section 234(a)(1) of Pub. L. 104–132
text: Pub. L. 104–132, title II, § 234(a)(2), Apr. 24, 1996, 110 Stat. 1245, provided that: “Section 1403(b)(8) of the Victims of Crime Act of 1984 [34 U.S.C. 20102(b)(8)], as added by paragraph (1) of this section, shall not be applied to deny victims compensation to any person until the date on which the Attorney General, in consultation with the Director of the Administrative Office of the United States Courts, issues a written determination that a cost-effective, readily available criminal debt payment tracking system operated by the agency responsible for the collection of criminal debt has established cost-effective, readily available communications links with entities that administer Federal victim compensation programs that are sufficient to ensure that victim compensation is not denied to any person except as authorized by law.”