On August 1, 2007 the State of New Jersey Victims of Crime Compensation Board (VCCB) was abolished, and the State Victims of Crime Compensation Agency (VCCA) began. With the passing of the VCCB, the ills of political patronage in this governmental agency were finally laid to rest. The attached articles evidence this.
In the two year quest for reform and justice for crime victims that was spearheaded by Senator Loretta Weinberg, the lines in the battlefield were drawn between political favoritism and integrity in government.
On June 21, 2007 Senator Weinberg’s bill passed the General Assembly by a vote of 76 to 3 and the Senate by 37 to 0. Attached is the bill signed into law by Governor Corzine on June 28, 2007 [See "The New Law" below].
Next to the passage of the Victim’s Rights Amendment in 1991, this bill represents the most important single piece of victims’ rights legislation in New Jersey history. Like the Amendment, its passage demonstrates the will and the power of the statewide Crime Victims Coalition and its many members from High Point to Cape May who refused to permit political patronage to continue its stranglehold over the interests of innocent crime victims.
The five new commissioners will serve without pay. They will be there for the right reasons. Hopefully, they will be crime victims and advocates.
The Victims of Crime Compensation Agency represents a new dawn in the victims’ rights movement in the State of New Jersey.
View the Victims of Crime Compensation Agency homepage.
News
- Richard Pompelio's follow up correspondence to VCCA on behalf of the Nguyen family
2008-12-06
- Richard Pompelio's correspondence to VCCA on behalf of the Nguyen family
2008-10-23
- The New Law
Senator Loretta Weinberg 2007-06-28
- CRIME VICTIMS BOARD OVERHAUL PASSES
NJ LAWYER 2007-06-25
- Revisiting an old foe
Max Pizarro 2007-06-20
- Stop stoking gravy train
Asbury Park Press 2006-03-21
- Boot out victims board, critics say
2006-03-15
- Let's Get the Money to the Victims of Crime
Senator Loretta Weinberg 2006-03-14
- Crime victims panel needs restructuring
Home News Tribune Online 2006-03-10
- Coalition calling for Pompelio reinstatement to victims board
2002-03-07