Victims of Crime Act
The Victims of Crime Act (VOCA), enacted in 1984, represents a significant milestone in the recognition and support of crime victims in the United States. This federal law was established following a growing awareness of victims' rights during the 1960s, influenced by social movements advocating for civil rights and women's rights. VOCA led to the creation of the Office for Victims of Crime (OVC) within the Department of Justice, tasked with administering federal funds allocated to assist states in providing compensation and support for crime victims. The act aimed to enhance the treatment of victims within the criminal justice system, ensuring they receive necessary resources and advocacy. Over time, VOCA has facilitated the establishment of compensation and assistance offices in all U.S. states by 1992. This development has contributed to a broader societal shift towards recognizing the importance of supporting victims as integral to the justice process. Overall, VOCA plays a crucial role in the ongoing efforts to improve the rights and resources available to victims of crime.
Victims of Crime Act
The Law: Federal legislation that established funding for compensating and assisting victims of crime
Date: Signed into law on October 12, 1984
Significance: The Victims of Crime Act demonstrated the federal government’s commitment to assisting crime victims and encouraged the funding of victim-assistance programs throughout the United States.
Victims have existed as long as there have been crimes, and the methods and efforts of restoring the victims and their losses have been variously addressed. One of the earliest known documents that described government intervention and restoring victims was the code of the eighteenth century b.c.e. Babylonian ruler Hammurabi. In the eighteenth century, Italian criminologist Cesare Becaria began addressing criminals’ rights.
During the 1960’s, various movements raised the issues of inequities in the rights of various communities in the United States. One of these communities was made up victims of crime, and the issue of their rights began gaining national attention. The developing victims’ movement adopted many of the methods of the Civil Rights movement and women’s rights movement and raised public awareness of victim status and treatment in the criminal justice system. As a result, some local efforts were attempted in providing assistance for crime victims, most notably in California.
During the early 1980’s, President Ronald Reagan ordered the establishment of a Presidential Task Force on Victims of Crime. That initiative led to recommendations for legislative assistance and protection of crime victims and resulted in the passage of the federal Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) in 1984. The law established federal funding for the states to provide compensation and assistance to crime victims. In addition, the law established the Office for Victims of Crime (OVC) as an agency of the Department of Justice. That agency was given responsibility for administering the federal funds made possible through VOCA. In addition, the OVC was to provide advocacy and assistance for victims.
The Victims of Crime Act was a major step in changing the rights for victims of crime. By 1992, all U.S. states had established offices for victims’ compensations and assistance.
Bibliography
Doerner, William G. Victimology. Cincinnati: Anderson Publishing, 2002.
Estrich, Susan. With Justice for Some: Victims’ Rights in Criminal Trials. Reading, Mass.: Addison-Wesley, 1995.
Karmen, Andrew. Crime Victims: An Introduction to Victimology. 5th ed. Belmont, Calif.: Wadsworth, 2004.