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 Pennsylvania, the Crime Victim Compensation Fund is managed by the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency (PCCD) through its Victims Compensation Assistance Program (VCAP). This program provides financial assistance to victims of violent crimes for expenses incurred as a result of the crime. Eligible expenses include medical and counseling costs, lost wages, funeral expenses, crime scene cleanup, and more. To receive assistance, victims must file a claim with VCAP and meet certain eligibility criteria, such as cooperating with law enforcement and not engaging in illegal activity at the time of the crime. The fund is primarily financed by fines, fees, and other penalties paid by convicted offenders, not tax dollars. Compensation is available to victims who have suffered physical or emotional harm, dependents of victims, those who have paid expenses on behalf of a victim, and certain family members affected by the crime. Additionally, individuals who intervene to assist a victim or law enforcement may also be eligible. Attorney fees for assistance in completing the compensation application can be covered as well. It's important for victims to apply within the time limits set by the program and to provide the necessary documentation to support their claim.