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Media Contact: Shelli King, Director of Communications

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October is National Domestic Violence Awareness Month, and Criminal Injuries Compensation Program wants victim assistance groups to know it’s a resource

Online training and other resources available to any organization assisting victims

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NASHVILLE – In recognition of National Domestic Violence Awareness Month, the Tennessee Department of Treasury is working to increase awareness of a resource to financially assist victims of crime. The Criminal Injuries Compensation Program provides funds of last resort to victims who have suffered personal injuries related to a crime, including injuries related to domestic violence.

Tennessee’s Criminal Injuries Compensation Program has paid over $344 million to victims

Criminal Injuries Compensation program, which provides last resort funds to help restore TN victims, is recognizing National Crime Victims’ Rights Week this month

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The Tennessee Department of Treasury’s Criminal Injuries Compensation Program has paid more than $344 million to victims over the past 40 years since the program’s inception in 1982.

Tennessee Treasury Observes National Crime Victims’ Rights Week, April 18-24

Criminal Injuries Compensation Program Provides Last Resort Funds to Help Restore TN Victims

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NASHVILLE - The Tennessee Department of Treasury is joining organizations across the country April 18 - 24 in recognizing National Crime Victims’ Rights Week to raise awareness of victims’ rights, inspire the community, and address unmet needs.

In observation of the week, State Treasurer David H. Lillard, Jr., wants to remind the public of a fund designed to help innocent victims of violent crimes in Tennessee and restore hope. The Criminal Injuries Compensation (CIC) Program, a program of the Tennessee Department of Treasury, serves victims who have no other means of helping to defray the costs of eligible expenses. The fund covers expenses caused by personal injury, such as medical bills, lost wages, loss of support to financial dependents, mental health counseling, and more.

Money in the fund can even help with the expenses incurred while cleaning the scene of the crime, if it occurred in a victim’s home. If the crime results in the death of the victim, the fund can help those remaining dependents with some financial support and can help cover funeral expenses. 

The theme for the 2021 National Crime Victims’ Rights Week, “Support Victims. Build Trust. Engage Communities” celebrates the contributions that we all can make toward building trust in our community’s capacity to support the healing journeys of crime victims. We are honoring both the individual victims in our community and the groups engaged in building networks of understanding and support.

About 1.2 million people were victims of violent crime in 2019, excluding simple assault, a significant decrease from the year before, according to the most recent National Crime Victimization Survey from the Bureau of Justice Statistics. Now is the time to redouble our efforts so that victimization continues to decline and fewer and fewer Tennesseans become victims of crime.

Since its inception in 1982, the Criminal Injuries Compensation Fund has paid out more than $325 million in claims to Tennessee victims and their families when no other financial means were available. The money in the fund comes from fines, penalties, and fees paid by criminals to state and federal courts.

“This is a fund of last resort,” Treasurer Lillard said. “One would hope to never be a victim, but we all know bad things do happen. When you have no other means, please know there is still help with this program.”

Learn more about the CIC program at treasury.tn.gov/injury. Follow the Tennessee Treasury on Facebook and Twitter to get involved in the National Crime Victims’ Rights Week conversation.

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Tennessee Treasury Director Named Risk Management All Star

Treasury is proud to announce that Rodney Escobar has been named a 2019 Risk All Star by Risk & Insurance magazine.

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The Tennessee Treasury Department is proud to announce that Rodney Escobar, Director of the Division of Claims and Risk Management, has been named a 2019 Risk All Star by Risk & Insurance magazine for his work in revamping the State’s workers’ compensation program. Of the nine people named on the Risk All Star list, Escobar is the only government employee recognized this year.

Tennessee Department of Treasury Recognizes National Crime Victims’ Rights Week

The week is a way to raise awareness of victims’ rights, inspire the community, and address unmet needs.

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The Tennessee Department of Treasury is joining organizations across the country April 7th - 13th in recognizing National Crime Victims’ Rights Week. The week is a way to raise awareness of victims’ rights, inspire the community, and address unmet needs. The Criminal Injuries Compensation Program, a program of the Tennessee Department of Treasury, works to help innocent victims of violent crimes in Tennessee.