Foster Announces $4.3 Million for Illinois Crime Victims

Press Release

Recovery Act to Aid State and Local Law Enforcement

Today, Rep. Bill Foster announced that the state of Illinois will receive more than $4.3 million for victims of crime. Illinois has qualified for these funds under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, for which Foster voted.

"While no amount of money can ever completely erase the pain inflicted upon victims of crime, this $4.3 million from the Recovery package will help victims get the assistance they need now and into the future," said Foster. "I'm pleased that the medical and mental health professionals in Illinois can now better assist and support victims of crime - especially victims of domestic violence, sexual assault and child abuse."

The funds were awarded through the Office for Victims of Crime's (OVC) State Crime Victim Compensation Program and State Crime Victim Assistance Program, which both supplement the efforts of states and territories to compensate and support crime victims. The State Crime Victim Compensation Program reimburses victims for crime-related expenses such as medical costs, mental health counseling, funeral and burial costs, lost wages or loss of support.

The State Victim Assistance Program supports community-based organizations that serve crime victims. These organizations provide services like crisis intervention, counseling, emergency shelter, criminal justice advocacy, and emergency transportation. Illinois is required to give priority to programs serving victims of domestic violence, sexual assault and child abuse.

"In economically turbulent times, critical public services like these victim assistance programs often face the challenge of increased demand for services just as budgets are most threatened, or in decline," Foster said. "The stimulus package is continuing to help Illinoisans by ensuring these kinds of important services remain widely available to those who need them most."

Illinois received a total of $4,382,132 for crime victims from the Recovery package, consisting of $3,029,132 for the State Crime Victim Compensation program and $1,353,000 for the State Crime Victim Assistance Program. A list of Illinois state agencies that will be administering the funds can be found at http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/saa.

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