Editor:

Are the residents of Natrona County aware if they become a victim of crime, they will only be assisted with the Victims Assistance Fund if they suffer a physical injury? I was one of the victims of the rash of vehicle/window vandalism that took place during the spring of 2009. After the arrests of the perpetrators I was informed by the District Attorney's Office that once they were sentenced and if restitution were ordered, I could ask for assistance from the fund for the money I had to spend to replace my vehicle window.

The perpetrators have been sentenced and ordered to pay restitution, however, now the District Attorney's Office has informed me that only victims that suffer a physical injury are assisted through the fund! Guess I should have cut myself on the window as I was removing the broken pieces and cleaning up the mess.

Why are the perpetrators being ordered to pay restitution if the restitution is not to help the victims of the crime they committed? Makes me wonder how much money is sitting in this fund and what is being done with the money. How am I any less a victim of a crime than a person who chose to go to a bar and get in a fight and suffer a physical injury?

If you become a victim of a crime in Natrona County, make sure you suffer a physical injury if you want any assistance from the Victims Assistance Fund.

MELISSA GRISHAM, Evansville