Policy Timeline: Victims of Crime

Victims of Crime Legislation

Jan 1, 1800

Prior to 1965 no laws existed in America to support victims of crime. During that time, crime victims had to rely on welfare programs for compensation needs. (Young & Stein, 2004)

Victims of Crime

Period: Jan 1, 1800 to Mar 19, 2012

Margery Fry

Dec 31, 1950

Margery Fry, a penal reformer in Great Britain, lobbied for governments in England to provide compensation to crime victims from the 1950's to the 1960s (Young & Stein, 2004).

First Victim Compensation Program

Dec 31, 1963

New Zealand implements the first state-run victim compensation program. Great Britain passes a similar law shortly after New Zealand (Young & Stein, 2004).

First Crime Victim Compensation Program

Dec 31, 1965

California created the first crime victim compensation program in the United States (Colorado Organization for Victim Assistance, 2012).

First Victim Assistance Programs in the U.S. are Established

Dec 31, 1972

Aid for Victims of Crime (St. Louis, Missouri)
Crime Victim Advocacy Center of St. Louis (Formerly named Aid for Victims of Crime) Bay Area Women Against Rape - BAWAR (Oakland, California)
BAWAR Rape Crisis Center (Washington, D.C.)
DC Rape Crisis Center (Colorado Organization for Victim Assistance, 2012)

Federal Law Enforcement Assistance Administration (LEAA)

Dec 31, 1974

LEAA funded the first victim/witness programs in Brooklyn and Milwaukee. The National District Attorneys Association provided a grant to several district attorneys offices in the hopes that victims would cooperate and improve prosecution outcomes (Colorado Organization for Victim Assistance, 2012).

Task Force on Victims of Crime

Apr 23, 1982

President Ronald Reagan establishes a Task Force on Victims of Crime to focus on the needs of victims of crime. Their final report introduces 68 recommendations for the implementation of programs and policies. They also recommended that the U.S. Constitution's sixth amendment be changed, so that victims have more rights to be involved in court hearings. Final Report

Office for Victims of Crime (OVC)

Dec 31, 1983

The U.S. Department of Justice established the Office for Victims of Crime (OVC) to implement President Ronald Reagan's Task Force recommendations. The OVC created a national resource center, provided trainings for professionals, and became a model for laws protecting victims. (Colorado Organization for Victim Assistance, 2012)

Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) & Crime Victims Fund

Dec 31, 1984

Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) passed. As a result, the Crime Victims Fund is created to help fund state victim compensation and services. Millions of dollars are collected each year to help fund victim services. The funds come from offenders convicted of federal crimes, such as criminal fines, forfeited bail bonds, and penalties (Office for Victims of Crime, 2010).

Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act

Sep 13, 1994

Signed by President Clinton, this act provides several changes to assist victims of crime: The Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) Creation of the National Child Sex Offender Registry Stricter sentencing for intoxicated drivers with child passengers (Colorado Organization for Victim Assistance, 2012).

Crime Victims With Disabilities Awareness Act

Oct 27, 1998

This act was the first attempt to gather information regarding victims with disabilities. For 18 months, studies were conducted and statistics made about the types of crimes made against people with disabilities. Also reported were victim characteristics. (Colorado Organization for Victim Assistance, 2012)

USA PATRIOT Act of 2001

Oct 26, 2001

As a result of the terrorist acts in New York, Virginia, and Pennsylvania on September 11, 2001, President George W. Bush signed the USA PATRIOT ACT. USA PATRIOT stands for "Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to intercept and Obstruct Terrorism". This act created changes to the Victims of Crime Act (VOCA), by including compensation to the victims of the September 11 terrorist attacks. (Colorado Organization for Victim Assistance, 2012 & History, 2001)

Victim Compensation Programs

Dec 31, 2002

"By the end of 2002, all 50 states, the District of Columbia, U.S. Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico and Guam have established crime victim compensation programs" (Colorado Organization for Victim Assistance, 2012).

PROTECT Act of 2003 - "Amber Alert"

Apr 30, 2003

AMBER = America’s Missing: Broadcast Emergency Response. This was the creation of a national network to increase a quick response to kidnapped and abducted children. Awareness is brought to the attention of law enforcement and the community. (Colorado Organization for Victim Assistance, 2012 & Department of Justice, 2003)

Justice for All Act of 2004

Oct 30, 2004

Specifies crime victims' rights: 1) Right to be protected from accused perpetrator
2) Right to notification of court hearings and/or the release or escape of the accused
3) Right to participate in court hearings
4) Right to speak at court hearings
5) Right to speak with the attorney for the Government involved in the case
6) Right to restitution
7) Right to trials without unreasonable delay
8) Right to be treated fairly and with respect (Office for Justice Programs, 2006)

Victims' Bill of Rights Act of 2008: Marsy's Law

Nov 4, 2008

Marsalee (Marsy) Nicholas was a UC Santa Barbara student. In 1983, Marsy was stalked and killed by her ex-boyfriend. He was released from jail a week later. Marsy's law provided more protection to crime victims and increased the length of parole denials to 7, 10, and 15 years. Victims' Bill of Rights
Victims' Bill of Rights Act of 2008: Marsy's Law