Each of the states and the federal government have established a crime victim compensation fund or program to assist victims of violent crime with expenses related to the crime. To receive financial assistance from a crime victim compensation fund, a person must complete an application. Crime victim compensation funds are often funded by fines and penalties assessed against convicted criminal offenders, and by private donations, rather than by tax dollars.

Eligibility for payment of crime-related costs from state and federal crime victim compensation funds varies, but such funds are generally available to pay for a variety of expenses, including:

• medical, hospital, physical therapy, and nursing home care

• psychiatric care or counseling

• loss of wages, income, or support

• loss of wages and travel expenses due to participation in the investigation and prosecution of the crime

• funeral and burial expenses

• crime scene cleanup expenses

• care for a child or a dependent

• relocation expenses for domestic violence victims and sexual assault victims attacked in their own residence

• replacement costs for clothing, bedding, or other property seized as evidence or rendered unusable as a result of the investigation

• job training and vocational rehabilitation

• training in the use of required personal health appliances

• making a home or car handicapped accessible in the event of catastrophic injuries and permanent disability

• home health care

• attorney fees for assistance in completing the crime victim compensation application

The persons eligible to receive payment for crime-related costs from crime victim compensation funds varies, but victims who may qualify for compensation generally include:

• an innocent victim of crime who suffers physical, mental, or emotional harm or death

• a person who is a dependent of a victim of a crime

• a person who legally assumes the financial obligations or voluntarily pays certain crime-related expenses on behalf of the victim

• an authorized person acting on behalf of a victim

• an immediate family member or household members related by blood or marriage who require psychiatric care or counseling as a result of the crime

• a person who comes to the aid of a crime victim or a police officer

• a police officer, firefighter, or other person whose employment includes protecting the public

In Maryland, the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board (CICB) administers the state's Crime Victim Compensation Fund, which provides financial assistance to victims of violent crimes and their eligible family members. The fund is designed to cover various expenses related to the crime, such as medical and mental health treatment, lost wages, funeral costs, crime scene cleanup, and more. To access these benefits, victims must file a claim with the CICB, which includes completing an application. Funding for the compensation comes from fines and penalties paid by convicted offenders, as well as from other sources such as federal grants, rather than from state tax revenues. Eligibility criteria include being an innocent victim who suffered harm due to a crime, a dependent of a crime victim, or a person who has paid expenses on behalf of the victim. Immediate family members may also qualify for compensation for psychiatric care or counseling. Additionally, those who assist crime victims or are involved in law enforcement may be eligible under certain circumstances. It's important to note that there may be specific requirements and limitations, such as reporting the crime to law enforcement within a certain timeframe and cooperating with the investigation and prosecution. An attorney can assist victims with the application process, and reasonable attorney fees may be covered by the fund.