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1. Who may qualify?

• An innocent victim of crime who suffers substantial threat of physical and/or emotional harm or death.
• A dependent victim.
• An authorized individual acting on behalf of a victim.
• An intervener who goes to the aid of a victim or peace officer.
• A person who legally assumes the obligations or voluntarily pays certain expenses related to the crime on behalf of the victim.
• Immediate family or household members related by blood or marriage who require counseling as a result of the crime.
• A peace officer, firefighter or individual who has a duty to protect the public and who is injured in a crime.

 

2. Who is not eligible?

Benefits may be reduced or denied if the victim:

• Participated in the crime.
• Engaged in illegal activity.
• Contributed to the crime was an inmate at the time of the crime.
• Knowingly or intentionally submitted false or forged information to the Crime Victims' Compensation Program.
• Did not cooperate with the appropriate law enforcement agencies.

3. What crimes are covered?

Crimes covered by Crime Victims' Compensation are those in which the victim suffers substantial threat of physical or emotional harm or death. These may include sexual assault, kidnapping, robbery, assault, homicide and other violent crimes.

Vehicular crimes that are covered include failure to stop and render aid. DWI, manslaughter, criminally negligent homicide, aggravated assault, intoxication, and intoxication assault.

4. What type of financial assistance is available?

Claims may be approved for benefits up to a total of $50,000. In the case of extraordinary pecuniary losses resulting in a total and permanent disability, victims may be eligible for an additional $75,000 in benefits.

Upon approval, benefits may be awarded for the following:

• Medical, hospital, physical therapy or nursing care.
• Psychiatric care or counseling.
• One-time relocation assistance for victims who are assaulted in the victim's place of residence, including victims of family violence, sexual assault, stalking or human trafficking.
• Loss of earnings or support.
• Loss of wages and travel reimbursement due to participation in or attendance at the investigation, prosecutorial and judicial processes.
• Care of a child or dependent.
• Funeral and burial expenses.
• Crime scene clean-up.
• Replacement costs for clothing, bedding or other properly seized as evidence or endured unusable as the result of the investigation.
• Attorney fees for assistance in filing the Crime Victims' Compensation application and in obtaining benefits if the claim is approved.
• Loss of wages and travel to seek medical treatment or counseling.

Additional benefits for victims who have suffered an extraordinary pecuniary loss include:

• Making a home or car accessible.
• Job training and vocational rehabilitation.
• Training in the use of special appliances.
• Home health care.
• Reimbursement of lost wages.
• Rehabilitation technology, long term medical expenses and durable medical equipment.

Reimbursement for property damage or theft is not an eligible expense. Please note that financial assistance may be limited or unavailable depending on laws in effect when the crime occurred.

5. How do I apply?

Every law enforcement agency and prosecutor's office in Texas is mandated to provide victims of crime with information about the Crime Victims' Compensation Program application for benefits. When contacting these agencies, please ask for the victim assistance liaison or coordinator, who can provide assistance in completing the application. Hospitals and medical centers may also have applications and materials.

Applications for benefits can be obtained directly from the Crime Victims' Compensation Program in the Office of the Attorney General by calling 800-983-9933. Professional staff at the division are also available to answer any questions and provide assistance in completing the application. An application can be completed online or downloaded from www.texasattorneygeneral.gov.

Click here to download the Crime Victims’ Compensation Application, fill it out (remember to sign) and either mail it directly to the Attorney General’s Office in Austin at: 

Office of the Attorney General 

Crime Victims’ Compensation Program (011) 

P.O. Box 12198 

Austin, Texas 78711-2198  

You can also fax (817-491-6053) or mail it to the Roanoke Police Department’s Victim Liaison at: 

Roanoke Police Department 

Attn: Crime Victim Assistance

609 Dallas Drive

Roanoke, TX 76262

 

 Texas Crime Victims' Compensation Application - English

 Texas Crime Victims' Compensation Application - Español

6. What are my rights to appeal when benefits have been reduced or denied?

If the Crime Victims' Compensation Program makes a decision with which the victim or claimant disagrees, he or she has a right under the law to ask that the decision be reconsidered. In order to appeal a decision, the victim or claimant must notify Crime Victims' Compensation in writing within 30 days, stating the reason for dissatisfaction. If the outcome of the reconsideration process is not satisfactory, the victim or claimant has 30 days to request a final ruling hearing from the Crime Victims' Compensation Program. Should the victim or claimant not agree with the outcome of the hearing he or she has 40 days from the date of the final hearing to file the attorney general a written notice of dissatisfaction and 40 days thereafter to file a lawsuit in district court.