VICTIM COMPENSATION
Since 1984, Pennsylvania has provided compensation for victims of
crime. Those eligible for crime victim compensation include the direct
victim of a crime, a surviving
spouse, parent, child of a victim, a witness to a violent crime who
was present at the scene (for counseling expenses only),
or someone who came to the aid of a victim.
Relative to homicide cases, any person who depends on a deceased
victim for principal support or any person (except the applicable
offender) who assumes the obligation to pay
for funeral expenses may be eligible.
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If you need an attorney and don't have one, the Lawyer Referral and Information Service can help.
Call Us Monday - Friday from 8:30 AM - Noon and 1:15 PM - 3:00 PM at (814) 459-4411.
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The Victim Compensation Assistance Program allows for reimbursement
for lost wages, medical expenses, funeral expenses, stolen
pension or other retirement or disability benefits, relocation
expenses, crime scene clean up expenses, loss of support in
homicide cases, mileage to and from medical services (including
counseling) and counseling expenses. There are claim compensation limits
including a total cap of thirty-five thousand dollars ($35,000.00),
a sub-cap for loss of support in homicide cases of twenty thousand
dollars ($20,000.00), a sub-cap for loss of earnings of fifteen thousand
dollars ($15,000.00), a sub-cap for funeral expenses of five thousand
dollars ($5,000.00) with various limits for particular funeral services
and sub-caps for counseling expenses ranging from one thousand
five hundred dollars ($1,500.00, for witnesses who were
physically present at the crime scene and who witnessed a violent
crime) to ten thousand dollars ($10,000.00, for a minor child who is a
direct victims of a crime).
Those eligible must report the crime to the police or other law enforcement
within seventy-two hours of the occurrence and cooperate
with the authorities in the investigation. Crime victim compensation
claims must be filed within two years of the date of the
crime and all eligible insurances and/or other available compensation must
be exhausted before a claim will be considered for payment.
In addition, before receiving
payment for a claim, each applicant must have a minimum of one hundred
dollars ($100.00) out-of-pocket expenses unless the eligible
participant is age sixty (60) or older.
Claims are assessed by the staff of the Victim Compensation Assistance
Program located in the Office of Victim Services of the
Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency (in Harrisburg).
They determine if a claim is eligible for payment. Local claim
filing assistance is available in Erie with the Crime Victim Center
at 125 West 18th Street (phone 814-455-9515). Services provided
by the Crime Victim Center are free.
If you need an attorney and don't have one, the Lawyer Referral and Information Service can help.
Call Us Monday - Friday from 8:30 AM - Noon and 1:15 PM - 3:00 PM
at (814) 459-4411. |
