After people become crime victims, they often have financial, employment or other problems. Crime victims may be eligible to receive compensation for the financial, emotional, and physical losses they have suffered.
In 1965, California enacted the Victims of Violent Crime Act. This act provides for reimbursement to persons who, as a result of a violent crime, have suffered a monetary loss due to a physical or emotional injury not covered by another source (e.g., insurance). These persons may include specified family members who need psychotherapy as a result of the crime. Law enforcement officers are required to inform victims at the time of the crime about the availability of state compensation funds and the location of the local victim/witness assistance center where they may file for reimbursement.
Depending on the circumstances and the date of the crime, a person who qualifies as a victim of a crime may be entitled to receive compensation for unreimbursed monetary loss. This compensation must be reimbursement for medical and hospital bills; loss of income; loss of support; funeral and burial expenses; rehabilitation or retraining costs, including counseling and therapy; and, in some instances, attorney fees associated with representing a victim on a Victim of Crime claim with the Victim Compensation and Government Claims Board.
To apply for compensation, you must submit a claim within one year after the crime and must cooperate in the investigation and prosecution of the suspect. If circumstances prevented your filing a claim within one year, you can file a late claim within three years of the crime, providing you can show good cause for not filing earlier. Minor victims of crime have up to one year after reaching the age of 18 years to file a claim, if a claim was not previously filed. The Victim Compensation and Government Claims Board is responsible for administering the Victims of Crime Program. The Board may grant a late claim for good cause. The circumstances must be reviewed by the Board to determine if an exception will be made.
Once a claim is filed you may have questions on the status of your claim. You should contact the Victim Compensation and Government Claims Board for the status of your claim. It is important that you use your full name and Victim of Crime claim number when you have any verbal or written communication with the Victim Compensation and Government Claims Board.
If your claim is denied because of a recommendation from the staff of the Victims of Crime Program, you may appeal that decision to the Victim Compensation and Government Claims Board for an informal hearing.
Applications are available from your local victim/witness assistance center or from the Victim Compensation and Government Claims Board at:
| Victim Compensation and Government Claims Board
Victims of Crime Program P. O. Box 3036 Sacramento, CA 95812-3036 (916) 322-4426 or (800) 777-9229 |
Keep in mind that the Victims of Crime Program is a program of "last resort." If your loss is covered by insurance, the insurance must be used before the Victims of Crime Program covers any losses beyond the insurance coverage. All expenses and bills are your financial responsibility.
If you receive any direct restitution, insurance payments or a civil
judgment resulting in payment to you, the Victim Compensation and Government Claims Board will require repayment of previously paid Victim of Crime claims.
