Whose Money Is It?

The New York state legislature creates the laws that the Crime Victims Board must follow. For stalking victims, the state legislature says security devices are covered. There aren't any restrictions or caps. Security devices. Easy, right? No brainer, right? Security devices are covered. The law is clear.

I don't think the NYS Crime Victims Board knows the law. The CVB just does what the CVB wants to do. And gosh, it is totally weird to experience.

CVB Chairwoman Tina Stanford wrote and wanted to work out a "reasonable" solution.

Since she has a lot of work and other cases, I wrote back and reminded her about the law and facts.

On December 23, 2009, CVB Chairwoman Stanford wrote again, retracted things she said, and said there would be no meeting.

I think it's a problem with money.

Stanford comes from a prosecutor background and thinks solutions mean cutting a deal.

But the law says crime victims are compensated for purchasing security devices. Period. Nothing in the law says crime victims have to give the CVB a good deal, and take less.

I've been a prosecutor, but my experience with NYS comes from more than 10 years being an attorney for children in Family Court. Attorneys for children are compensated by the state of New York. There are laws and regulations. NO ONE tries to cut the state a deal. NO ONE pretends the law says you have to take less. NO ONE tries to shaft you to save money.

The state legislature says stalking victims are to be reimbursed for stalking devices, period.

I don't know what's going on with the CVB, and somebody should investigate it.