What are Crime Victims’ Rights to Injury Compensation?

Crime victims have rights and protections under the law. Learn more about victim injury compensation programs and how to seek restitution.

The FBI defines violent crimes as those that involve force or threat of force. Nearly 1.2 million violent crimes occur each year, including murder, manslaughter, rape, robbery, and aggravated assault.¹

An average of one out of six women and one in 33 men are victims of rape or attempted rape during their lifetime.²

About 67 percent of reported violent crimes are aggravated assaults. Felony aggravated assault is the unlawful attack by a person intending to inflict severe bodily injury. It can include the use of everything from fists to firearms.³ Depending on the circumstances, fights can be treated differently under the law.

Every jurisdiction in the United States offers financial assistance to crime victims and their families. Compensation funds are available to help with the cost of medical expenses, mental health services, and much more.

Understanding Crime Victim Rights

The Crime Victim Rights Act is a bill of rights for victims of federal crimes. The act defines victims as anyone directly and proximately harmed by such crimes.

Today, all 50 states, the District of Columbia, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, and Guam have acts protecting crime victims’ rights.

The Victim’s Right to be Heard

Victims’ rights acts give victims a platform for recognition within the judicial system. Before victims’ rights were legally established, many victims got lost in the system and had to suffer in silence. The rights of accused criminals often seemed more important than the victims’ financial and personal losses.

With the enactment of victims’ rights acts across the country, victims no longer need to feel alone and unimportant. Crime victims now have a say in the administration of justice as it applies to the accused and themselves.

Crime victim’s rights include:

  • The right to dignified and respectful treatment by prosecutors and law enforcement
  • The right to reasonable protection from the person or persons accused of the crime
  • The right to notification of court proceedings and parole hearings
  • The right to speak at court when the accused is entering a plea or receiving a sentence
  • The right to speak at court hearings when probation is under consideration
  • The right to speak at parole hearings dealing with the convict’s early release from prison
  • The right to speak with the prosecutor about issues related to your case
  • The right to restitution from the criminal

Crime victims have a right to be heard in court before a criminal is sentenced for the crime and anytime the criminal is up for probation or parole. If the victim is unable to advocate for themselves, such as child victims and elderly victims, a guardian may advocate on their behalf.

Tell the prosecutor you want to be notified of court proceedings involving the accused. Ask to meet with the prosecutor to explain how the crime has affected you personally and financially. You can ask to be consulted before they make any plea deals or set the amount of restitution the accused has to pay to compensate you for your losses.

The Violence Against Women Act

The federal Violence Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act was signed into law in 1994, with Title V providing $1.6 billion for the investigation and prosecution of crimes against women, and establishing the Office of Violence Against Women in the Department of Justice.

The Office on Violence Against Women (OVW) was formed in 1995 to provide financial and technical assistance to communities and tribal councils throughout the United States. It strengthens services for victims of:

The OVW administers federal funds to communities all over the country through grants that total approximately $450 million annually. However, the OVW does not provide services directly to victims or victims’ families.

Your Victim Impact Statement

A victim impact statement is the crime victim’s description, in their own words, of how the crime has affected them. Victim impact statements can be written down, or the crime victim may choose to speak in court.

Some states allow victims to record their statements. Children may be allowed to draw pictures to show how the crime affected them.

If you’ve lost a friend or family member to a criminal act, you may also have the opportunity to submit an impact statement to be read before sentencing.

Victim impact statements provide information about your injuries, pain, fear, and other damages that might not otherwise be known. The judge or parole board will use the information you provide to help determine how long the criminal should be incarcerated, and if they ever deserve a chance for parole.

Victim impact statements may include descriptions of your:

  • Physical injuries caused by the crime
  • Emotional damage caused by the crime
  • Medical and mental health treatments since the crime
  • Financial losses
  • Need for financial restitution from the criminal

In some states, the victim is also allowed to offer their opinion on the crime, the criminal, and what kind of sentence should be imposed.

It can be hard to think about how the crime affected your life, yet many victims of violent crime feel empowered when confronting the criminal who hurt them.

Your district attorney’s office or other advocate offices in your community can answer questions about victim impact statements in your state. Advocates can also help put together your statement.

Crime Victim Injury Compensation Funds

Crime victim compensation programs throughout the United States help victims of violence every day. Compensation funds help by paying for the costs of medical care, mental health counseling, and lost time at work, as well as funerals and other expenses that families face after the murder of a loved one.

Nearly $500 million is paid every year for more than 200,000 claimants suffering a criminal injury, including victims of partner and child abuse, rape, assault, and drunk driving, as well as families of homicide victims.

Find your State Crime Victim Compensation Program for contact information, application deadlines, and compensation benefit details.

Every state has different benefits available for the innocent victim of a crime and families of murder victims, with varying limits. There is no coverage for pain and suffering.

Common crime victim benefits include financial assistance for:

  • Medical expenses for the victim – may be secondary to other sources, like Medicaid
  • Mental health counseling for the victim, some offer services to indirect victims like partners and children
  • Lost wages as a result of the crime, some with enhanced benefits for permanent disability
  • Moving expenses when recommended by a therapist or police
  • Home security
  • Travel expenses to medical providers and court appearances
  • Rehabilitation for disabled victims, like job retraining and vehicle modification
  • Funeral expenses
  • Grief counseling
  • Crime scene cleanup for homicides in private residences
  • Attorney fees
  • Emergency expenses

Most state victim service programs are funded with court-imposed fines and restitution against lawbreakers.

Eligibility for Victim Compensation

Every state has different eligibility requirements.

To qualify for victim financial assistance, you must:

  1. Promptly report the crime to law enforcement
  2. Cooperate with the law enforcement agency investigating the crime
  3. File for fund benefits before the state deadline
  4. Have verified damages, such as medical costs
  5. Not be involved in causing the crime

Most states don’t require child victims to abide by the reporting and filing deadlines. Deadlines may be waived for adult crime victims on a case-by-case basis for good cause.

Applying for Victim Compensation

As a crime victim or the family members of a murder victim, you have the right to apply for compensation from your state or county victims’ compensation fund.

You can apply directly to the compensation fund in the state where the crime occurred. Application forms can be filled out online, or forms can be mailed to you. Your information is kept secure and confidential.

You can get help with your application from the local:

  • Prosecutor’s Office
  • State or County Police – Crime Victim Liaison
  • Victim Advocates – such as family violence or rape crisis centers

Decisions on applications are usually made by the fund program administrators. If your application is denied, you’ll be given information on the appeals process.

Proving Your Financial Losses

It’s very important to have your financial losses well-documented. Most compensation funds won’t pay for expenses already covered by health insurance or workers’ compensation.

Medical Care: Make sure you have medical bills, receipts for out-of-pocket expenses, and counseling bills. If you have medical benefits through Medicaid, Medicare, or other health insurance, you’ll need to provide your insurance information.

Lost Wages: If you missed work while receiving treatment for a personal injury from a violent crime, ask your employer for a written statement verifying the dates you missed work and the amount of wages you lost as a result.

Child Care: If you had to pay for child care while getting treatment for your injuries, attending court hearings or meetings with the prosecutors or law enforcement, make sure you bring receipts that directly correlate to the dates and times of the meeting or court hearings.

Home Security: Take photos of any property damage. Attach receipts for the repair or replacement of broken doors, windows, and the like.

Transportation: Keep receipts for the cost of cabs, bus fare, or gasoline. If driving, track your mileage to medical appointments and court hearings.

Funeral Expenses: The funeral home will provide a detailed breakdown of funeral and burial expenses for the deceased victim, as well as fees for death certificates and other necessities.

Crime Victim Hotlines and Helpful Links

VictimConnect
National Hotline for Crime Victims that can help answer any questions
1-855-4-VICTIM (1-855-484-2846)

Office for Victims of Crime, Directory of Crime Victim Services
Offers links to programs and services available to crime victims

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline
1-800-273-TALK (8255) [24/7 hotline]
1-888-628-9454 (Spanish)
1-800-799-4889 (TTY)

National Association of Crime Victim Compensation Boards
Links to every state’s compensation program

National Child Abuse Hotline
1-800-422-4453

National Sexual Assault Hotline
1-800-656-4673 [24/7 hotline]

Women’s Law
Legal information for victims of abuse, including information on protective orders

Crime Victim Injury Compensation Questions