Crime Victim Compensation Program
Providing financial assistance for victims of violent crime.
What services are Offered?
Financial compensation and referral services to eligible persons who are victims of crime.
Who Can Apply?
- Any adult victim who has been physically injured as a result of a crime.
- The parent or guardian of a minor or incompetent victim that has been injured as a result of a crime.
- The parent of guardian of a minor victim less than 16 years old that was present at the scene of a violent crime,who saw or heard the crime, and suffered phsychological injury, but was not physically injured.
- The spouse, parent, sibling, or adult child of a deceased victim.
- Any other relativee applying on behalf of a deceased victim.
- Any elderly or disabled adult who lost propery as a result of a crime.
Who is Eligible?
Any victim who received personal injury, or survivors of someone who was killed as a result of a felony or misdemeanor crime punishable under federal or state law, including DUI and hit and run. (All other automobile accidents are excluded by law.) Also any elderly or disabled adult who suffered a property loss as a result of a crime. In addition, any minor who was a witness to a crime.If...- The crime was reported to law enforcement within 72 hours.
- The application was filed within one year after the crime.
- The victim has fully cooperated with law enforcement and the state attorney's office.
- The victim was not engaged in an unlawful activity.
- The victim did not contribute to his/her own injuries.
What Benefits are Available?
- Lost wagesfor a victim who missed work as a result of the crime.
- Loss of supportfor the personss who were principally dependent on a deceased victim who was employed or earned income at the time of the crime.
- Disability allowance when the victim becomes disabled as a result of the crime.
- Payment of funeral/burial expensesfor a deceased victim.
- Reimbursement for medical and dental treatment expenses(including ambulance charges, hospital expenses, and physician/dentist costs).
- Reimbursement for prescriptions, eyeglasses, dentures, or prosthetic devices needed as a result of the crime.
- Reimbursement for mental health counseling.
- Reimbursement for property lossfor elderly or disabled adults only. An additional Property Loss Claim Form needs to be completed and sent to the Bureau of Victim Compensation.
Note:Only those expenses directly related to the crime are payable.How to Apply:
The claim form may be obtained through the Victim Advocate of the Office of the State Attorney by calling:
941-637-2104
You are not required to have an attorney in order to file a claim, and there is not application fee. The victim advocate will provide assistance in filling out the claim form.The Division of Victim Services and the Criminal Justice Programs within the Office of the Attorney General provides a toll-free information and referral line to victims of crime or their immediate family. Call the Victim Services Information and Referral Line if you would like information about:
- Victim service programs in your area and referral to local resources.
- The Sexual Battery Examination Program.
- The appeals process or the status of appellate cases.
- Emergency financial assistance.
- Checking on the status of individual victim compensation claims.
Toll-Free Victim Services Information and Referral Line:
1-800-226-6667
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