RELEASE:
CRIME VICTIM COMPENSATION PROGRAM DISTRIBUTES MORE THAN $3.7 MILLION TO VICTIMS IN FISCAL YEAR 2016
JACKSON- Attorney General Jim Hood announced today that innocent victims of violent crime in Mississippi received more than $3.7 million in essential financial assistance in fiscal 2016 to help pay for medical treatment and other expenses.
The Crime Victim Compensation program, administered by the Attorney General’s Office, distributed $3,747,754.61 to 1,163 victims of crime in Mississippi who were in need of financial support due to injuries related to the criminal acts perpetrated against them.
“Mississippi residents who are victims of violent crime deserve the assurance that they can receive help to recover and move forward from often times tragic circumstances,” Attorney General Hood said. “The Victim Compensation program is funded in large part by convicted criminals whose heinous acts caused the injury and loss sustained by victims. My office is committed to ensuring that crime victims are not re-victimized because of the costs associated with violent crime.”
Attorney General Hood said he was concerned about the future budget needs of the program, since the Legislature this year directed that any assessments imposed by courts be deposited into the state General Fund rather than the Crime Victim Compensation Fund. This could reduce the amount of money available in the future for innocent victims of crime.
“I have voiced my concern since early this year about the damaging impacts of the 2017 budget on our state’s most vulnerable citizens, as well as the law enforcement officers and first responders who protect us,” Attorney General Hood. “No eligible individual should be turned away because of lack of funding for this critical safety net for crime victims.”
The Crime Victim Compensation Program reimburses eligible crime victims or next-of-kin for expenses not covered by other sources, such as insurance. The program is funded from fees assessed to convicted criminals, court-ordered restitution and federal grants.
Eligible applicants may receive compensation for medical treatment, mental health services, funeral costs and several other types of expenses. The maximum amount distributed per individual is $20,000.
For more information about the Crime Victim Compensation Program, visit www.AGJimHood.com or call (800) 829-6766.
###
MISSISSIPPI CRIME VICTIM COMPENSATION PROGRAM
2016 Fiscal Year Payments by County
County
Amount
ADAMS
$22,160.41
ALCORN
$24,587.80
AMITE
$1,557.02
ATTALA
$28,242.64
BENTON
$7,014.88
BOLIVAR
$58,410.53
CALHOUN
$7,485.73
CHICKASAW
$45,560.90
CHOCTAW
$5,792.49
CLAIBORNE
$52,019.44
CLAY
$18,154.53
COAHOMA
$128,385.79
COPIAH
$28,838.83
DE SOTO
$79,337.15
FORREST
$93,181.46
GEORGE
$29,643.28
GREENE
$2,944.00
GRENADA
$70,798.21
HANCOCK
$39,718.07
HARRISON
$236,594.65
HINDS
$685,680.39
HOLMES
$60,963.95
ITAWAMBA
$23.345.00
JACKSON
$232,820.47
JASPER
$11,660.00
JEFFERSON
$33,747.49
JONES
$64,124.98
KEMPER
$1,648.17
LAFAYETTE
$64,350.80
LAMAR
$13,087.52
LAUDERDALE
$108,791.09
LAWRENCE
$1,000.00
LEAKE
$31,918.63
LEE
$80,063.39
LEFLORE
$81,236.23
LINCOLN
$14,862.21
LOWNDES
$57,221.36
MADISON
$70,656.06
MARION
$12,701.79
MARSHALL
$62,039.07
MONROE
$23,129.99
MONTGOMERY
$214.20
NESHOBA
$16,265.14
NEWTON
$7,303.40
NOXUBEE
$3,780.00
OKTIBBEHA
$10,000.00
PANOLA
$76,687.62
PEARL RIVER
$29,888.38
PERRY
$6,500.00
PIKE
$113,661.24
PONTOTOC
$29,070.00
PRENTISS
$3,903.84
QUITMAN
$13,354.51
RANKIN
$42,987.26
SCOTT
$14,276.42
SHARKEY
$5,293.16
SMITH
$4,311.02
STONE
$14,565.81
SUNFLOWER
$44,321.25
TALLAHATCHIE
$27,182.60
TATE
$60.00
TIPPAH
$20,130.00
TUNICA
$35,461.88
UNION
$8,213.64
WALTHALL
$1,540.25
WARREN
$92,759.21
WASHINGTON
$230,144.37
WAYNE
$12,862.38
WEBSTER
$8,628.15
WILKINSON
$31,981.47
WINSTON
$60,498.29
YALOBUSHA
$23,956.80
YAZOO
$42,475.92
TOTAL:
$3,747,754.61
8/10/16
