There are many costs to victims of crime.
Help is available through the District Attorney's
Office Victim Compensation Program
The crime Victim Compensation Act of Colorado was
enacted on July 1, 1982, and has helped many victims
of crime. The Fund comes from fines paid by convicted
defendants. A victim of a compensable crime may complete
an application to be reviewed and approved or denied
by the Victim Compensation Board. The Board consists
of 3 area citizens who are appointed by the District
Attorney. The maximum allowable award for reimbursable
expenses is $20,000 per claim.
Guidelines for Applicants:
Time and Place
of Crime: The crime must have been
committed on or after July 1, 1982, in Archuleta,
La Plata or San Juan County, Colorado.
Victim: The Applicant must be a victim or a dependent
of a victim.
Police: The police must have been notified within
72 hours after the crime.
Victim Cooperation: The
victim must cooperate fully with law enforcement
officials including the DA's Office.
Victim's Conduct: The victim must not have been
committing, assisting or attempting a crime at the
time of injury. The victim must not have provoked
or incited the injury.
Application: The claim must be filed within one
year (6 months for property damage) from when the
crime happened.
Insurance: If the victim has insurance, insurance
benefits must be utilized before victim compensation
funs can be awarded.
Some of these requirements may be waived for "good
cause" or in the "interest of justice" by the Victim
Compensation Board.
Losses that may be reimbursed:
- Medical and dental expenses;
- Mental health therapy;
- Lost wages;
- Burial expenses;
- Replacement or repair of dentures, hearing aids,
eye glasses and other medically necessary devices;
- Homemaker and home health care services;
- Loss of support;
- Property: replacement
of windows, doors and locks of a residential home
damaged during the commission of a crime. Modifications
to the residence to ensure victim safety may also
be considered.
Emergency Awards:
This award is intended to cover
expenses incurred by crime victims in meeting their
immediate short-term needs. The Board will determine
if undue hardship will result to the applicant if
immediate payment is not met. The maximum allowable
emergency award is $1,000.
Compensation does NOT over:
- Loss of money or any personal property such as
televisions, stereos, clothes, food or jewelry;
- Damaged or stolen vehicles;
- Pain and suffering;
- Non-residential doors, locks and windows.
Please note:
- An arrest or conviction does not have to be made
in order to be eligible for funding; however, a
compensable crime must have been reported to the
police.
- Processing and presenting your claim to the Board
may take up to 60 days.
- If you have questions or would
like to apply for Victim Compensation, please call
the Sixth Judicial District Attorney's Office at
(970) 247-8850 or 1-800-835-8522.
|
