ABSTRACT
Many crime victims suffer serious losses from their victimization. Some of these losses perhaps cannot be measured in financial terms, but many of them do have a money value. The availability of compensation boards in states such as New York and New Jersey provide victims the potential for financial recovery after their losses. The adoption of compensation programs in both states was dominated by a balancing of fears about costs with the political value of enacting such a policy. In addition, both plans were passed in the "law-and-order" atmosphere of the period, and thus amidst cries about coddling criminals. New York state police officers are formally required to read (in either English or Spanish) victims (from a Miranda-like card) their eligibility to receive compensation. Of crucial importance for victims seeking to recover their losses are the requirements they must satisfy to qualify for compensation. The limitations in both state's programs are quite extensive and formidable.
