2019 US Code
Title 18 - Crimes and Criminal Procedure
Part II - Criminal Procedure
Chapter 224 - Protection of Witnesses
Sec. 3525 - Victims Compensation Fund

(a) The Attorney General may pay restitution to, or in the case of death, compensation for the death of any victim of a crime that causes or threatens death or serious bodily injury and that is committed by any person during a period in which that person is provided protection under this chapter.

(b) Not later than four months after the end of each fiscal year, the Attorney General shall transmit to the Congress a detailed report on payments made under this section for such year.

(c) There are authorized to be appropriated for the fiscal year 1985 and for each fiscal year thereafter, $1,000,000 for payments under this section.

(d) The Attorney General shall establish guidelines and procedures for making payments under this section. The payments to victims under this section shall be made for the types of expenses provided for in section 3579(b) ¹ of this title, except that in the case of the death of the victim, an amount not to exceed $50,000 may be paid to the victim's estate. No payment may be made under this section to a victim unless the victim has sought restitution and compensation provided under Federal or State law or by civil action. Such payments may be made only to the extent the victim, or the victim's estate, has not otherwise received restitution and compensation, including insurance payments, for the crime involved. Payments may be made under this section to victims of crimes occurring on or after the date of the enactment of this chapter.¹ In the case of a crime occurring before the date of the enactment of this chapter,¹ a payment may be made under this section only in the case of the death of the victim, and then only in an amount not exceeding $25,000, and such a payment may be made notwithstanding the requirements of the third sentence of this subsection.

(e) Nothing in this section shall be construed to create a cause of action against the United States.

(Added Pub. L. 98–473, title II, §1208, Oct. 12, 1984, 98 Stat. 2162.)

Section 3579(b) of this title, referred to in subsec. (d), was renumbered section 3663(b) of this title by Pub. L. 98–473, title II, §212(a)(1), Oct. 12, 1984, 98 Stat. 1987.

The date of the enactment of this chapter, referred to in subsec. (d), is the date of enactment of Pub. L. 98–473, which was approved Oct. 12, 1984.

Section effective Oct. 1, 1984, see section 1210 of Pub. L. 98–473, set out as a note under section 3521 of this title.

Pub. L. 99–180, title II, §200, Dec. 13, 1985, 99 Stat. 1142, provided: "That restitution of not to exceed $25,000 shall be paid to the estate of victims killed before October 12, 1984 as a result of crimes committed by persons who have been enrolled in the Federal witness protection program, if such crimes were committed within two years after protection was terminated, notwithstanding any limitations contained in part (a) of section 3525 of title 18 of the United States Code."

Similar provisions were contained in the following prior appropriation act:

Pub. L. 99–88, title I, §100, Aug. 15, 1985, 99 Stat. 303.

¹ See References in Text note below.