Criminal Injuries Compensation Fund

If you have been a victim of a violent crime or are a surviving relative of a victim, you may be eligible for financial compensation to cover medical expenses, psychological counseling, lost wages, or funeral expenses incurred as a result of the crime. The Virginia Criminal Injuries Compensation Fund was created to assist innocent victims in recovering these expenses.

To be eligible for funds provided by this program, the following qualifications must be met:

• The crime occurred in Virginia and resulted in physical injury or death

• The crime was reported to law enforcement within 120 hours after occurrence, unless good cause for delay is shown

• The victim cooperated with law enforcement and was willing to prosecute in court

• The value of the claim, not paid by other sources, amounts to at least $100

• The crime did not involve a motor vehicle accident unless it was the result of a violation of the drunk driving statute or unless the injuries were intentionally inflicted

A maximum award amount of up to $15,000 is available to pay for the following expenses if they are not paid by other sources:

• Unreimbursed medical expenses

• Unreimbursed wage loss up to a maximum of $200 per week

• Mental health counseling

• Counseling expenses up to $2,500 for eligible family members of homicide victims

• Funeral and burial expenses up to $3,500

• Moving expenses up to $500

• Crime scene clean-up expenses up to $1,000

• Other reasonable and necessary expenses incurred as a result of the crime, such as prescriptions, mileage to and from doctor visits, and eyeglasses

All claims must be filed within one year of the date of the crime for both a physical injury case and a homicide and within two years from the date of the crime where good cause for the delay is shown. Please keep in mind that expenses covered by insurance and damage or loss of personal property are not items covered by this fund. Payment for attorney’s fees and compensation for pain and suffering are not available benefits either.

To obtain a claim form or if you would like assistance in filing your claim, please contact our office or call the Division of the Criminal Injuries Compensation Fund directly at (800) 552-4007.

Please Note: The Lynchburg Victim/Witness Program is a separate organization from the Criminal Injuries Compensation Fund. The Criminal Injuries Compensation Fund makes all decisions regarding awards and denials based on the completed application and any additional information received for a claim.