Crime Victim Compensation

Crime Victim Compensation Program – Compensation for Your Financial Losses
Victims of violent crime and family or household members of deceased victims may have significant out-of-pocket expenses through no fault of their own.  Crime Victim Compensation (CVC) helps pay for unreimbursed eligible expenses that result from the crime.
PDF Download: Crime Victim Comp Brochure Application

Fill out the application online:  Crime Victim Compensation Online Application

Applying for Crime Victim Compensation
Who may be eligible?

An innocent victim who suffers injury from a compensable crime as identified by law.
A dependent or legal representative of an innocent victim who has been killed as a result of a compensable crime.
A person who is injured while aiding a crime victim or helping a police officer.
A person who suffers a reaction from the death of a family or household member.
A person injured in a car accident caused by an intoxicated driver, who was:
A pedestrian or a passenger in the other car.
A child passenger in the offender’s car.
Unaware that the driver was under the influence of alcohol or an illegal drug.

What must I do to be eligible?
The victim’s conduct must not have caused or contributed to the victim’s death or injury.
The victim must not have committed a crime that led to the injury or death.
The crime must be reported to law enforcement within five days of the crime or within five days of when the crime could reasonably have been reported.
The victim must cooperate with law enforcement officials in their investigation and prosecution of the crime.
The applicant must file a claim within one year of the date of the crime.
A victim who was a minor at the time of the crime may file within one year of turning 18.
If the victim is listed on the statewide child support lien docket, certain requirements must be met in order to become eligible.
The applicant must cooperate with the Wisconsin Department of Justice by supplying requested information in a timely manner.
What compensation may be paid?
The State of Wisconsin pays up to $40,000 for out of pocket expenses that are not paid or payable by a private or group insurance plan, public funds, or any other source, including payments made by the offender.

Eligible expenses include:
Medical, hospital, surgical, pharmacy, and mental health counseling expenses.*
Lost wages for medical disability.
Loss of support to a dependent of a crime victim who is killed.
Reasonable replacement costs of clothing or bedding held as evidence- up to $300.
Reasonable replacement value of property held as evidence and rendered unusable by crime lab testing- up to $200.
Reasonable and necessary costs for securing and cleaning a crime scene- up to $1,000.  Cost of homemaker services.
Reasonable funeral and burial expenses- up to $5,000 (included in the overall $40,000 maximum).

Adults victimized as children can apply for benefits.  The program can pay eligible expenses for four years (or $40,000 maximum) which can include expenses incurred up to one year prior to the application being filed.

Up to $3,000 for expenses related to mental health treatment and work loss for parents of a minor victim.

Up to $5,000 for reasonable and necessary housing adaptations if the victim suffered a protracted disability.

Up to $200 for reasonable replacement of any computer or mobile telephone held as evidence.

Please note: Property loss or damage is not covered other than those items described above. A victim is not eligible for Crime Victim Compensation if only property damage or loss occurred.

*If you have medical coverage through another source for the payment of your medical or mental health expenses, you must be treated by a provider who accepts that source of payment.

How will my claim be processed?

Once your application has been received, CVC will request the law enforcement investigative report from the law enforcement agency. CVC will use the law enforcement report and your application to determine if your claim is eligible.
The time it takes to determine eligibility varies considerably, depending on the complexity of the claim. However, submitting all requested materials to the Wisconsin Department of Justice in a timely manner will help facilitate the processing of your claim.
For eligible claims, payments will begin as soon as all necessary information has been submitted and reviewed.
For ineligible claims, a written denial decision and explanation of the appeal procedure will be mailed to you.

Contact the CVC Program

Our staff is available to assist victims, applicants, providers and other stakeholders with questions regarding the Crime Victim Compensation Program.

Fax: (608) 264-6368
Phone in Madison area: (608) 264-9497
Toll-free: (800) 446-6564
TTY: (800) 947-3529
Email the Crime Victim Compensation Program.

CVC
PO Box 7951
Madison, WI 53707-7951