You asked if the names of people who receive crime victim compensation, the amount they receive, and the services the compensation covers are available to the public.

According to Judicial Department Attorney Nicholas Cimmino, this information is not available to the public. The Freedom of Information Act (CGS § 1-200 et seq. ), which requires the disclosure of public documents, applies only to public agencies. Unlike executive and legislative agencies, which are all public, judicial offices, including the Office of Victim Services (OVS), are public agencies only with respect to their administrative functions (CGS § 1-200(1)(A)). OVS is performing an adjudicative function when it compiles this data and is therefore not a “public agency” within the meaning of the Freedom of Information Act, according to Cimmino.

OVS can compensate crime victims, or their immediate families when the victim is deceased, incapacitated, or a minor child, for actual and reasonable expenses, lost wages, and pecuniary and other losses resulting from injury or death. Maximum awards are $ 15,000 for personal injuries and $ 25,000 for death. Eligible victims must have been injured or killed during (1) their attempt to prevent crime, aid police, or apprehend suspects; (2) attempts to commit, or actual commissions of, crimes by another person; (3) international terrorism; or (4) another person’s violation of enumerated motor vehicle offenses (CGS §§ 54-209, -210, and -211).

SN-E: ro