June 14, 2007 — The U.S. Office for Victims of Crime has awarded victim assistance and compensation grants totaling $837,000 to the Virgin Islands for the 2007 fiscal year, according to a news release from U.S. Attorney Anthony Jenkins.
Of the total, $624,000 is for victim assistance and $213,000 is for victim compensation, according to the news release. The grants are funded by money collected by U.S. attorneys’ offices and the U.S. courts from federal offenders through special assessments, fines, and bond forfeitures under the Victims of Crime Act.
The funds for victim assistance go to provide services to victims of federal and state crimes, the news release said. Services are for victims of rape, drunk driving, child abuse, domestic violence and other crimes. For more information about the use of these funds in the territory, contact Meredith Nielsen at 774-6400.
The funds for victim compensation are awarded to the V.I. Criminal Victims Compensation Commission, Department of Human Services to reimburse victims or their service providers for medical, mental health, funeral and other expenses, and provide for lost wages and loss of support, the release said. For more information about this program, contact Christopher Finch at 774-1166.
“When we recommend fines and penalties against offenders, we are remembering the victims,” Jenkins said, according to the news release. “These funds will enable the victims of crime to receive much-needed assistance and compensation by community-service providers.”
For more information about the Office of Victims of Crime, visit its website at ovc.gov.
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