The bipartisan bill was signed by President Biden on Thursday.
Funding for the existing Victims of Crime Act was increased as more was allocated to programs for victim support in legislation signed by the president. “When someone commits a crime, it’s not enough to bring the predator to justice. We also need to support the victims,” President Biden said, reflecting on his time spent visiting victims in domestic violence shelters. He added, “I’m convinced that women who are victims of domestic violence suffer from post-traumatic stress no different than a soldier being shot at regularly.”
The legislation, put forward by New York Representative Jerry Nadler, changes how criminal fines are deposited federally. The president explained, “This one doesn’t take a dime of taxpayers’ money. It uses fines and penalties paid by convicted federal criminals.” The legislation received overwhelming congressional support with the Senate voting 100-0, and the House 384-38.
More than 13 million people relied on state, local and tribal services provided by victims of crime during 2018, according to the latest data from the Bureau of Justice Statistics National Crime Victimization Survey.
As the Lord Leads, Pray with Us…
- For the Department of Justice as the new compensation act is implemented.
- For Congress as criminal justice reforms continue to be evaluated.
- For the individuals and families who have been victimized by crime and are in need of varied support services.
Sources: Fox News, CBS News
