Victim Compensation

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If you or a loved one has suffered physical or emotional injury from a violent crime, the Victims of Crime Program may be able to help.

The program was created to help victims and their families with the many costs of crime. It is funded entirely with fines and penalties from offenders, not by California's tax dollars.

Individuals Who May Be Eligible For Compensation:

• Persons who have been physically or emotionally injured by crime in California.
• California residents injured by crime or terrorism wherever it may take place.
• Survivors of a victim who has died as a direct result of a crime, and anyone who has paid for the medical, funeral and or burial expenses of that victim.
• A victim's spouse, child, parent or sibling. A family member of the victim, including the victim's fiancé who witnessed the crime.
• A person living in the victim's household at the time of the crime or who had lived with the victim for at least two years in a relationship similar to a spouse, child, parent, or sibling of the victim.
• The primary care giver of a minor victim.

Factors Used In Determining Eligibility For Compensation:

• Documentation that a crime has occurred. (crime report from law enforcement or Children's Protective Services).
• Persons cannot have been a contributor to or involved in the commission of the crime.
• An application is filed with the Program within one year from the date of the crime or an explanation is provided as to why it was not filed on time.
• If the victim was a minor at the time the crime occurred and the claim is filed before the victim's 19^th birthday or explain why it was not filed on time.
• The individual(s) is cooperating with law enforcement agencies in the apprehension and conviction of the criminal(s) who committed the crime.
• The individual(s) is cooperating with the Crime Victims Assistance Center or its representatives.
• An applicant must not have consented to, provoked, or incited the crime nor have been assisting in or committing a criminal act causing the injuries.

What Type of Compensation is Available?

Depending on the circumstances and date of the crime, a person who qualifies as a victim of a crime may be entitled to compensation for un-reimbursed monetary loss. The compensation must be reimbursement for medical and hospital expenses, rehabilitation or retraining costs, including counseling and therapy, and, in some instances, attorney fees associated with representing the victim in a claim with the State Victim Compensation and Government Claims Board.

As each case is different, request assistance from staff from the Crime Victims Assistance Center.

Also keep in mind that the Victims of Crime Program is secondary to all other insurance, payer of "last resort." If your loss is covered by insurance, the insurance is to be used before the Victims of Crimes Program.