The Victim Compensation Program (VCP) can help victims of violent crime and their families deal with the emotional, physical, and financial aftermath of crime. Victims can apply for compensation by filing an application with the California Victim Compensation and Government Claims Board.

To be eligible for compensation, a person must be a victim of a qualifying crime involving physical injury, threat of physical injury or death. For certain crimes, emotional injury alone is all that needs to be shown. Certain family members or other loved ones who suffer an economic loss resulting from an injury to, or death of, a victim of a crime may also be eligible for compensation.

Types Of Expenses That May Be Eligible For Reimbursement:

The VCP may reimburse the following expenses if they are necessary due to a crime and if there are no other sources of reimbursement available such as health insurance, worker's compensation or other benefits. Caps or limits may apply.

• Medical and medical-related expenses for the victim, including dental expenses.
• Outpatient mental health treatment or counseling.
• Funeral and burial expenses.
• Wage or income loss up to five years following the date of the crime. If the victim is permanently disabled, wage or income loss may be extended.
• Support loss for legal dependents of a deceased or injured victim.
• Up to 30 days wage loss for the parent or legal guardian of a minor victim who is hospitalized or dies as a direct result of a crime. Job retraining.
• Medically necessary renovation or retrofitting of a home or vehicle for a person permanently disabled as a result of the crime.
• Home security installation or improvements up to $1,000 if the crime occurred in the victim's home.
• In-patient psychiatric hospitalization costs under dire or exceptional circumstances.
• Relocation expenses up to $2,000 per household.
• Crime scene cleanup up to $1,000 if a victim dies as a result of a crime in a residence.

Applicants Must Meet The Following Eligibility Requirements:

• Have been a California resident when the crime occurred, or the crime must have occurred in California.
• Cooperate reasonably with police and court officials to arrest and prosecute the offender.
• Cooperate with VCP staff to verify the application.
• Not have been involved in events leading to the crime or have participated in the crime.
• File the application within one year of the crime, one year after the direct victim turns 18 years of age, or one year from when the crime could have been discovered, whichever is later. Applications may also be accepted after these filing periods under certain circumstances.

Information Web Links: