Justice Dept. Will Give $305 Million to Victim Aid Programs
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WASHINGTON — The Justice Department will distribute more than $305 million to state programs that help crime victims rebuild their lives, Vice President Al Gore will announce today.
The money will be used to cover such crime-related expenses as medical treatment, counseling, funeral costs and lost wages, according to a member of Gore’s staff who discussed the announcement Sunday on condition of not being identified by name.
In addition, funds will go to nearly 3,000 victim services agencies to help crime victims through crises intervention, criminal justice advocacy, counseling and emergency shelter.
Operated by the Justice Department, the Crime Victims Fund collects fines prisons paid by federal criminals. Many of the funds come from large criminal fines levied against corporations.
The money is to be distributed to the states by the end of February.
Gore will make the announcement while in California, which will get more than $43 million.
In Anaheim on Sunday, Gore also said the federal government will spend an additional $480 million next year on schools and educational programs serving Latino students. The increase sought in the Hispanic Education Action Plan would be on top of $524 million Congress approved in October.
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