“Victims of crime deserve not only access to support but confidence that the systems designed to help them are working as intended,” said Senator Majority Leader Ruiz (D-Essex/Hudson). “This legislation ensures that lawmakers, advocates, and the public clearly understand how victim compensation is being awarded and where improvements may be needed.”

“Accurate and consistent data is essential for effective public policy,” said Senator Wimberly (D-Bergen/Passaic). “By codifying the VCCO’s annual reporting practice, we can shine a light on how well the program is serving victims, identify gaps, and ensure taxpayer dollars are being used effectively to help those in need.”

The bill, S-2223, requires the Attorney General to direct the Executive Director of the VCCO to submit an annual report to the Governor and the Legislature summarizing data related to compensation awards. The report would include the number of applications received, granted, and denied, as well as the reasons for those outcomes, along with award amounts, demographic information, services provided, and funding received by the office.

The legislation aims to strengthen oversight and ensure transparency in the state’s efforts to support crime victims. While the VCCO has issued reports, the most recent publicly available report was for Fiscal Year 2020. This bill ensures that reporting becomes a regular and reliable tool for evaluation.

The annual report would be based on the state fiscal year and must be completed within six months following the close of each fiscal year. It would also be published on the official website of the Department of Law and Public Safety, making the data easily accessible to the public.

The legislation was introduced in response to a 2022 hearing of the Assembly Homeland Security and State Preparedness Committee, which highlighted the disproportionate impact of human trafficking on marginalized communities and the importance of improving access to victim services.