News
June 30, 2008
harkin announces more than $1.8 million to help crime victims in iowa
WASHINGTON, D.C. —Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) today announced that the Iowa Department of Justice received $1.845 million to help crime victims cover expenses related to the crime committed against them. Funds can be used to pay for medical and funeral costs, mental health counseling, loss of wages or support, and other services. It also helps pay for victim assistance programs such as rape crisis centers and domestic violence shelters. Harkin is a senior member of the Senate panel that funds U.S. Department of Justice programs.
"Often, being the target of a crime has financial costs, as well as emotional and physical costs," Harkin said. "I hope these funds will help ease any financial burden crime victims face so that they can recover as quickly as possible. We should do all that we can to ensure finances do not limit crime victims' access to the services they need to move on with their life."
These funds were made available through the U.S. Department of Justice's Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) program. Harkin has fought to ensure that VOCA is fully funded, despite the Bush Administrations repeated attempts to eliminate funding for the program.
Funds for victim compensation come from offenders convicted of federal crimes or private donations, not taxpayers. Specifically, the VOCA Fund is derived entirely from fines and penalties.
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