EPSTEIN VICTIMS' COMPENSATION PROGRAM — FINAL REPORT Program Administrator: Jordana H. Feldman Report Issued August 9, 2021
The Epstein Victims' Compensation Program (EVCP) was established in June 2020 as an alternative to civil litigation, offering victims of Jeffrey Epstein a mechanism to receive compensation from his estate without the burden and trauma of individual lawsuits. By the time it concluded, the program had distributed approximately $121 million to more than 135 individual claimants, making it one of the largest victim compensation funds ever administered from a single person's estate.
ESTABLISHMENT AND STRUCTURE:
The EVCP was created under the supervision of the co-executors of the Epstein estate, Darren Indyke and Richard Kahn, in coordination with the U.S. Virgin Islands Superior Court overseeing the probate proceedings. Independent claims administrator Jordana H. Feldman, a former Acting Director of the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund, was appointed to design and administer the program. Feldman's experience with large-scale victim compensation funds brought credibility and procedural rigor to the process.
The program was funded entirely from the assets of the Epstein estate. Claimants who accepted compensation through the program were required to execute releases of claims against the estate, the co-executors, and certain associated entities, but the releases did not preclude claims against third parties such as banks, co-conspirators, or other individuals.
ELIGIBILITY AND CLAIMS PROCESS:
The EVCP established a claims process that was designed to be less adversarial and less traumatic than civil litigation. Claimants were required to submit documentation of their victimization, which could include personal statements, medical or therapeutic records, law enforcement reports, or other evidence. The program accepted claims from individuals who were sexually abused by Epstein at any time, regardless of when the abuse occurred or whether it had previously been reported to law enforcement.
The claims review process included interviews conducted by trained professionals, review of supporting documentation, and evaluation by the administrator. Claimants were represented by counsel in the process, and many of the claimants' attorneys worked on a contingency basis.
COMPENSATION FRAMEWORK:
The program established compensation tiers based on the nature, severity, and duration of the abuse suffered by each claimant. While specific award amounts for individual claimants were confidential, the program's framework took into account factors including the age of the victim at the time of abuse, the frequency and duration of the abuse, the presence of aggravating factors such as trafficking across state or national borders, and the long-term impact on the victim's physical and mental health.
PARTICIPATION RATES:
The program received more than 225 initial claims. After review, approximately 150 claims were determined to be eligible, and more than 135 claimants ultimately accepted compensation through the program. Some eligible claimants chose not to participate, preferring to pursue individual civil litigation or to preserve their claims for other proceedings.
KEY STATISTICS:
Total distributions: Approximately $121 million Number of compensated claimants: More than 135 Average award: Not publicly disclosed (individual awards varied significantly based on circumstances) Program duration: Approximately 14 months (June 2020 through August 2021) Funding source: Epstein estate assets
COMPARISON TO OTHER PROGRAMS:
The EVCP was frequently compared to other large-scale victim compensation programs, including the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund, the Penn State/Sandusky fund, and the USA Gymnastics/Nassar fund. Legal commentators noted that the Epstein program was distinctive in that it was funded by a single individual's estate rather than by an institution or insurer, and that the volume and geographic diversity of claims reflected the scope of Epstein's criminal enterprise across multiple states and countries.
CRITICISM AND LIMITATIONS:
Some victims' advocates criticized the program for requiring releases of claims against the estate, arguing that this provision prioritized the interests of the co-executors over those of victims. Others noted that the compensation amounts, while substantial, could not fully redress the lifelong harm suffered by many of the claimants. Several victims declined to participate in the program, citing dissatisfaction with its terms or a preference for pursuing accountability through the courts.
Despite these criticisms, the EVCP was widely regarded as a meaningful, if imperfect, mechanism for providing compensation to survivors and was cited as a model for future victim compensation programs in complex, multi-victim cases.