TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) -- Attorney General Derek Schmidt says the Kansas Crime Victims Compensation Board awarded more than $243,000 to victims of violent crimes at its December meeting.

Schmidt said Wednesday the board approved cash payments in 60 new cases and 37 that were submitted earlier.

The Kansas program was created in 1978 to help victims of violent crime pay for unexpected expenses, including medical treatment, mental health counseling, lost wages and funerals.

Awards are capped at $25,000, with limits of $5,000 for funerals, $3,500 for outpatient mental health counseling and $10,000 for inpatient mental health treatment. Families of homicide victims may also receive up to $1,000 for grief counseling.

The compensation is funded through court costs, fines, inmate wages, parole fees and restitution paid by offenders.