Opinion ID: 3164794
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Crime Victim Compensation Act

Text: Â¶20Â Â Â Â Â Â Â The People suggest that if a court may order a refund of restitution, then the money should come from the crime victim compensation fund. However, anÂ examination of the statutes governing the crime victim compensation fund reveals no authority by which the court could order a withdrawal from this fund to reimburse Nelson. Â¶21Â Â Â Â Â Â Â In 1981, the General Assembly created the Crime Victim Compensation Program to protect and assist the victims of crimes and their immediate family members by âlessening the financial burden placed upon victims due to the commission of crimes.â Â§ 24-4.1-101, C.R.S. (2015). The General Assembly instructed that the statute be âliberally construedâ to accomplish its stated purpose. Id. Â¶22Â Â Â Â Â Â Â To achieve this purpose, the Crime Victim Compensation Act established a crime victim compensation board (âthe boardâ) in each judicial district. Â§Â§ 24-4.1-102(3), -103(1), C.R.S. (2015). In each district, the District Attorney appoints three members to the board. Â§ 24-4.1-103(1). The District Attorney and her staff assist the board in performing its duties. Â§ 24-4.1-104, C.R.S. (2015). This board considers applications to determine whether a victim is entitled to compensation and how much the victim should receive. Â§Â§ 24-4.1-106 to -109, C.R.S. (2015). Â¶23Â Â Â Â Â Â Â The Crime Victim Compensation Act also created a crime victim compensation fund in each judicial district. Â§ 24-4.1-117(1). This fund consists of the money received from costs and surcharges levied on criminal convictions, any federal money available for victim compensation, plus refunds from victims who receive an award from the fund in addition to damages or restitution from the defendant. Â§ 24-4.1-117(2); see also Â§ 24-4.1-119 (listing the costs and surcharges that finance the fund). The fees are âleviedÂ on each criminal action resulting in a conviction or in a deferred judgment and sentence.â Â§ 24-4.1-119(1)(a). Â¶24Â Â Â Â Â Â Â âAll moneys deposited in the fund shall be used solely for the compensation of victims,â other than a small carve-out of 12.5% for administrative costs. Â§ 24-4.1-117(5). The District Attorney may use no more than 10% of the fund for administrative costs, and the Court Administrator may use 2.5% for costs. Id. Â¶25Â Â Â Â Â Â Â The Court Administrator in each judicial district is the custodian of the fund. Â§ 24-4.1-118, C.R.S. (2015). The Court Administrator makes disbursements from the fund to compensate victims upon written authorization of either the board or the court. Id. Each year, the Court Administrators in each judicial district report the amount of money collected and distributed under the fund to the state Court Administrator. Â§ 24Â­4.1-122, C.R.S. (2015). Â¶26Â Â Â Â Â Â Â The Crime Victim Compensation Act also created an advisory board, which functions under the Division of Criminal Justice in the Department of Public Safety. Â§ 24-4.1-117.3(1), C.R.S. (2015). The Executive Director of the Department of Public Safety sits on the board and appoints at least seventeen members of various backgrounds to the board. Â§ 24-4.1-117.3(2). The advisory board develops and revises standards for the administration of the fund, investigates and imposes sanctions for violating those standards, distributes seized profits from crime, and advises the division of criminal justice concerning grant awards. Â§ 24-4.1-117.3(3). Â¶27Â Â Â Â Â Â Â The fund is intended to be the payor of last resort. Â§ 24-4.1-110(2), C.R.S. (2015). When a victim receives compensation from another source (such as restitution from theÂ defendant), in addition to compensation from the fund, the victim must refund either the lesser sum or the amount of compensation that exceeds his losses. Id. Any payment that the victim receives from the fund may not be assigned or subject to attachment until after the victim or his beneficiary actually receives the payment. Â§ 24-4.1-114, C.R.S. (2015). âThe acceptance of an award . . . shall subrogate the state, to the extent of such award, to any right or right of action accruing to the applicant.â Â§ 24-4.1-116, C.R.S. (2015). Â¶28Â Â Â Â Â Â Â The crime victim compensation fundâs purpose is clear: the money is to be used to compensate crime victims. Several bodiesâincluding the board, the advisory board, and the court administratorsâexercise some control over the fund. All of these bodies, however, are governed by the same restriction. Other than a small amount dedicated to administrative costs, the fund is to be used âsolely for the compensation of victims.â Â§ 24-4.1-117(5) (emphasis added). Nothing in the statute authorizes the court to withdraw funds for a refund to the defendant.