title: Victims' Compensation as a Tool of Therapeutic Justice: Examining the Physical and Mental Health Needs of Victim Compensation Applicants and the Role of Health in Receiving Compensation.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Victims' compensation programs are positioned to serve an important therapeutic role. Their use by persons with physical and mental health problems has not been investigated. This study evaluates the extent to which applicants have physical and mental health needs and whether receiving compensation is related to these needs.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data were part of a larger study designed to assess satisfaction with victim compensation in Georgia. The sample included 500 victim compensation applicants. Individuals were surveyed about their experiences applying for compensation as well as their current wellbeing. Descriptive and multivariate analyses investigated the link between physical and mental health problems and denial of victim compensation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Applicants for crime victim compensation in Georgia experienced a range of physical and mental health problems. Almost half of applicants had been diagnosed with a mental health condition, and 60% had been diagnosed with at least 1 physical health condition. Co-occurring disorders were common. In addition, being denied compensation was significantly related to having a mental health condition and to the number of diagnosed mental health conditions.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Crime victim applicants have clear physical and mental health needs. Being denied compensation benefits is related to having a mental health disorder. These results suggest that victim compensation programs can be an intervention point for victims and their families for either receipt of direct service or referral to needed services. In addition, changes in program administration may need to be made to alleviate disparity in award benefit related to mental health status.
authors: Georgia State University.
authors: Leah E
authors: LE
authors: Daigle
authors: Wendy P
authors: WP
authors: Guastaferro
authors: Andia
authors: A
authors: Azimi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003156:Community Mental Health Services; D035881:Compensation and Redress / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D003415:Crime / Q000191:economics / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D019548:Crime Victims / Q000191:economics / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D003416:Criminal Law; D005260:Female; D005845:Georgia; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008603:Mental Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D012941:Social Responsibility; D055815:Young Adult