To provide prompt economic assistance to victims of violent crimes, the Prosecutors' Office has revised its guidelines to increase the number of emergency support recipients and implement a principle of same-day payment for support funds.
According to legal sources on November 6, the Prosecutors' Office announced that it implemented a revised version of the 'Guidelines for Economic Support for Crime Victims' the previous day.
The revision expands the emergency support category to include cases where 'delays in support for treatment costs and other expenses may hinder the victim's recovery, housing stability, or daily life.'
Currently, the Prosecutors' Office provides support for treatment costs, psychological therapy, living expenses, educational expenses, funeral costs, and emergency living expenses to victims who have suffered physical or mental harm due to crime or are experiencing financial difficulties.
Under the revised guidelines, victims eligible for emergency support can receive prompt assistance even during the police investigation stage before the case is transferred to the Prosecutors' Office, and they can receive treatment and funeral costs on the same day they apply.
The decision-making process for support has also been expedited. For emergency support cases, the decision on whether to provide assistance and the amount will be made within 24 hours of initiating the process. It has been stipulated that post-approval will be obtained after the support decision without prior review by the 'Economic Support Review Council.'
To ensure swift review and decision-making, the Economic Support Review Council for general support cases will now meet at least twice a month.
Previously, the guidelines stipulated that support funds should be disbursed within seven days after a decision on general support. However, the revised guidelines specify that both emergency and general support funds should be paid on the day of the decision.
A spokesperson for the Prosecutors' Office stated, "We will continue to do our best to provide prompt and practical support to crime victims to facilitate their swift recovery and stable return to daily life."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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