Crime Victim Compensation Program

Who Can Apply?

• A victim
• A surviving spouse or parent of a deceased victim
• A surviving adult child or sibling of a deceased victim
• A guardian applying for a minor child victim
• A relative applying on behalf of a deceased victim when there is no other soure for payment of funeral expenses

What Information is Needed to Apply?

• A completed and signed victim compensation claim form
• A law enforcement offense report documenting proof of crime
• Proof or crime-related expenses (for example, Itemized bills)
• Proof of third-party payments such as insurance, restitution, judgments, or settlements
• Proof of the time lost from work due to the crime and a doctor's statement certifying disability

Who Qualifies?

• Victims who suffered personal physical, psychiatric, or psychological injury as the result of a crime.  Some exceptions may apply for victims who did not sustain a personal physical injury or death
• Survivors of a victim who was killed as a result of a felony or misdemeanor crime punishable under federal or state law, including DUI (motor vehicle, boating or aircraft) and hit and run

Qualification Requirements:

• Crime must be reported to law enforcement within 72 hours or good cause is shown for the delay in reporting
• Application must be filed within one year after the crime date or within two years for good cause
• Victim must fully cooperate with law enforcement, the state attorney's office and the Attorney General's office
• Victim must not have been engaged in an unlawful activity
• Victim must not have contributed to his or her own injuries
• Victim or claimant must not have been in custody or confined at the time of the crime
• Victim or claimant must not have been adjudicated as a habitual felony offender, habitual violent offender, violent career criminal, or adjudicated guilty of a forcible felony offense

A criminal background check will be conducted on all victims and/or claimants who submit a claim.

What Benefits are Available?

• Wage loss
• Loss of support
• Disability
• Funeral/burial
• Treatment expenses for medical or non-medical remedial care or other necessary services
• Prescriptions, eyeglasses, dentures or the prosthetic devices needed as a result of the crime
• Mental health counseling

Please contact your local victim advocate in your area if you require assistance in completing the claim form.  You are not required to have an attorney in order to file a claim, and there is no application fee.

Further information is available at the Florida Attorney Generalshome page or just contact your local MADD office (check the Florida MADD web site at   www.madd.org/fl and click the "State Leadership" tab for local MADD contact information).