52:4B-30. Payment of money from escrow account; priorities; liens and judgments
  1. If a person is not convicted of committing a crime, the board shall immediately pay over all moneys in the escrow account to the person, subject to any outstanding or pending liens or judgments. If the person is convicted, the board shall pay over the moneys according to the following priorities:

    1. Civil judgments of the victim or the victim's representative, which shall be apportioned among these judgment holders, if there is insufficient money in the account to pay each judgment in full. Any money received by the victim or the victim's representative as a result of a judgment in a prior civil action relating to the crime shall be set off against any amount due to be paid from the fund.

    2. Restitution ordered by the court, pursuant to the New Jersey Code of Criminal Justice.

    3. Other judgment creditors of the accused.

    4. Reasonable costs incurred by the Victims of Crime Compensation Agency in connection with the administration of the provisions of this act.

    5. The remainder of the moneys in the escrow account shall be paid to the Victims of Crime Compensation Agency for use in satisfying claims filed pursuant to the "Criminal Injuries Compensation Act of 1971," P.L.1971, c. 317 (C. 52:4B-1 et seq.). If there is a dispute as to the respective priority of or the apportionment due a judgment creditor, the board shall apply to Superior Court for a declaratory judgment, with proper notice given to all parties.

  2. No payment shall be made pursuant to subsection a. (5) until five years have elapsed from establishment of the escrow account or final disposition of any action brought by any victim or victim's representative pursuant to this act.

  3. Moneys in the escrow account shall not be subject to execution, levy attachment or lien, except in accordance with the priority of claims established in subsection a.