* WARNING: THIS IS AN UNOFFICIAL, INTRODUCTORY COPY OF THE BILL.
THE OFFICIAL COPY CONSIDERED BY THE CITY COUNCIL IS THE FIRST READER COPY.
INTRODUCTORY*
CITY OF BALTIMORE
COUNCIL BILL R
(Resolution)
Introduced by: Councilmember Clarke
A RESOLUTION ENTITLED
A COUNCIL RESOLUTION concerning
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Informational Hearing - Criminal Injuries Compensation Board
FOR the purpose of inviting representatives from the Maryland Criminal Injuries Compensation Board to attend a hearing before this Council to highlight how that Board assists crime victims, explain what victims should do in order to take advantage of this assistance, and discuss with representatives of the City's justice related agencies ways to ensure that crime victims are aware of their rights.
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Recitals
Since 1968, Maryland has had a fund designed to help offset the economic burdens that many innocent crime victims suffer from. This fund, administered by the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board (CICB), provides compensation for medical expenses, loss of earnings, or counseling to individuals injured during a crime. It also may provide funeral expenses and payments for loss of support to dependants of homicide victims.
During the last fiscal year the CICB approved 950 compensation awards of up to $45,000 each for a total of $7,337,078 in compensation to crime victims. The funding for these awards does not come from taxes, instead it is derived from fees in State and Federal courts.
Additionally, CICB victim services specialists assisted many other crime victims find the help that they needed in their time of need. These specialists assist crime victims with compensation claims, help them to obtain restitution through the criminal justice system from the offenders responsible for their plight, and provide victims with referrals to other agencies who can provide additional aid.
Although the CICB is clearly an important resource for crime victims, too many of our citizens are unaware of its existence or of how to contact the Board. It is important that the City do everything that it can to help those of our neighbors who find themselves struggling with the aftermath of a crime. Raising the profile of the CICB, and ensuring that the City's justice related agencies and community leaders are well equipped to direct people to this resource in their hour of need, is one small way that the City can help crime victims along the road to recovery.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF BALTIMORE, That representatives from the Maryland Criminal Injuries Compensation Board are invited to attend a hearing before this Council to highlight how that Board assists crime victims, explain what victims should do in order to take advantage of this assistance, and discuss with representatives of the City's justice related agencies ways to ensure that crime victims are aware of their rights.
AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be sent to the Mayor, the Executive Director of the Maryland Criminal Injuries Compensation Board, the Director of the Mayor's Office on Criminal Justice, the Police Commissioner, and the Mayor's Legislative Liaison to the City Council.
dlr 11-2323~intro/16Mar11
ccres/CICB/tw
dlr 11-2323~intro/16Mar11
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ccres/CICB/tw