• 04
  • October
    2011

Every state in the U.S. has some form of crime victims' compensation program that reimburses crime victims for expenses that they incur as a result of the crime. Ohio's program is called the Victims of Violent Crime Compensation Fund. The fund has paid out more than $307 million to those involved with violent crimes such as homicide, sexual assault and domestic assault since it started. In 2010 alone, 7,438 people applied for assistance from the fund and Ohio paid out $10.6 million to 4,334 people. The funding for the program comes from court costs that criminal defendants pay, federal grants and Ohio driver's license reinstatement fees.

Who is Eligible?

The following people are eligible to obtain money from the victims compensation fund:

•· Ohio residents injured in violent crime or those injured in violent crimes that occurred in Ohio

•· Dependents of those killed in violent crimes

•· Those legally authorized to act on the behalf of those injured in violent crime, such as parents or guardians of minors

Who is Not Eligible?

Some people cannot receive compensation from the fund, including:

•· Those convicted of felony, child endangerment or domestic assault offenses within 10 years of the crime date

•· Those who committed criminal acts that contributed to the injuries for which a person is making a claim

Benefits Available

The Victims of Violent Crime Compensation fund will reimburse victims for the following expenses:

•· Medical expenses

•· Lost wages from time missed from work

•· Counseling for immediate family members of victims of homicide, sexual assault or domestic violence, up to $2,500 each

•· Services and income a victim can no longer provide to dependents because the victim died in the crime

•· Funeral expenses up to $5,000

•· Crime scene clean-up up to $750

•· Replacement of personal property that police needed to take into evidence up to $750

•· Lost wages and travel expenses to travel to court

•· Attorney fees to assist in filing an application or obtaining a protective order

The cap on the amount that the fund will pay to a person is $50,000 per incident.

Steps to Take to Ensure Eligibility

In order to receive compensation from the fund, a person needs to make sure that he or she follows a few steps:

•· File the application within two years of the crime date; minors have until their 20th birthdays to file an application

•· Report the crime within 72 hours of its occurrence, unless there is good reason for reporting later

•· Check to see that there are no other sources of payment for the expenses on the application; the fund will not cover expenses for which victims have alternate forms of reimbursement such as insurance

The Ohio Victims of Violent Crime Compensation Fund can help in small part in making those involved with violent crimes whole again. However, those in charge of securing money for the fund and administering it need to be cautious that in their efforts to make sure the fund continues, that they do not steamroll the rights of those accused of and convicted of offenses.