Officials Concerned About Drop in Victims Fund Claims

State officials are concerned about a decline in claims submitted to West Virginia’s Crime Victims Compensation Fund.

Steve McElroy, the program’s community liaison, estimates that the number of claims so far this year is down about by 100 compared to previous years.

McElroy tells The Herald-Dispatch that state officials are trying to determine why claims have declined.

McElroy is traveling across the state to raise awareness about the fund. He says he met with 65 senior citizens in Hinton this week and none knew that the program exists.

The fund helps victims of violent crime pay for medical treatment, funeral expenses, counseling, legal representation and other services.