Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Board Awards Over $100,000

The Arkansas Crime Victims Reparations Board awarded $110,544.29 during June to 132 individuals who were victimized in Arkansas, Arkansas Attorney General Winston Bryant reports.

In Clark County one individual was awarded $166.50.

"Innocent victims of violent crime deserve the chance to receive asistance and rebuild their lives. It is a privilege for my office to administer a program that offers this assistance and it is satisfying to know that the funding comes from convicted criminals instead of taxpayers," Bryant said.

The Crime Victims Program was created by the 76th General Assembly in 1987. A five-member Crime Victims Reparations Board, chaired by Little Rock attorney Larry Dunklin, makes the final decisions on awarding or denying claims.

In 1995, a total of $1,582,146.17 was awarded to 1,536 innocent victims of crime in Arkansas, Bryant said.

The Attorney Genral's Office administers the program by receiving and investigating the claims. Claims are limited to $10,000 maximum and cover medical treatment, rehabilitation, lost wages, replacement services and funeral expenses. Funding for the program comes from the collection of fees from felony and misdemeanor offenders.

"The rising crime rate has left many victims desperately looking for help. The Crime Victims Program is expected to continue growing as more Arkansans discover that the help they are looking for is available in the Attorney General's Office." Bryant concluded.