If you’ve been the victim of a crime, it’s important you understand that you have a right to be compensated. Below are answers to some frequently asked questions.
What are the crimes for which compensation is available?
The VCCO may order the payment of compensation for personal injury or death which resulted from the commission or attempt to commit any of the following offenses:
- Aggravated assault
- Threats to do bodily harm
- Lewd, indecent or obscene acts
- Indecent acts with children
- Kidnapping
- Murder
- Manslaughter
- Aggravated sexual assault, sexual assault, aggravated criminal sexual contact, criminal sexual contact
- Any other crime involving violence including domestic violence
- Burglary (personal property loss or damage will not be compensated)
- Tampering with a cosmetic, drug or food product
- Driving a vehicle, commercial or private, or boat while under the influence of alcohol or narcotics
- Theft of an automobile, eluding a law enforcement officer or unlawful taking of a motor vehicle where injuries to the victim occur in the course of operating the automobile
What compensation benefits are available?
Compensation benefits may be awarded up to a maximum of $25,000 per claim ($10,000 for crimes before December 5, 1982) and may include the following:
- Medically related expenses
- Loss of earnings in personal injury cases
- Loss of support from the victim for dependents in homicide cases
- Loss of earnings for surviving spouse whose earning capacity has been reduced in case of victim/spouse’s death
- Loss of support from the offender in domestic violence cases
- Limited transportation costs
- Mental health counseling for victim and immediate family members
- Limited domestic service, child care, day care and after school care costs up to $6,500
- Funeral allowances of up to $5,000
- Loss of prescription eyeglasses
- Crime Scene Cleanup of up to $3,000
- Relocation expenses of up to $2,500
- Emergency financial assistance of up to $1,500, if you are employed and unable to work and face undue hardship as a result of crime-related injuries
- For crimes committed after June 26, 1995, if you are at least 60 years old or determined to disabled and meet financial guidelines, you may be eligible for reimbursement for up to $200 in stolen cash resulting from the assault and robbery.
The VCCO will pay legal fees only if it awards compensation. Attorneys are limited to receiving fees that are set by statute and by the Office. Attorneys who represent victim in the criminal justice system may be eligible to receive up to $1,000 in related legal fees.
Is the VCCO the primary payer of my crime related expenses?
The Victims of Crime Compensation Office is the payer of last resort. The VCCO will award compensation for the balance of crime-related expenses not reimbursed first from other sources such as medical insurance or disability benefits.
“Source or sources” means a source of benefits or advantages which you have received as reimbursement for medical or economic loss which is available to you from, but not limited to the following sources:
- Restitution from the offender which is payment made by assailants to their victims, as ordered by the court in a criminal proceeding. It may include compensation for property loss or damage, or for medical expenses. Restitution is now mandatory where the offender has the ability to pay. Please consult your County Victim-Witness Coordinator, in your County Prosecutor’s Office.
- The government or any agency of the United States, the State of New New Jersey or its political subdivisions, or of any two or more states
- Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid
- State disability insurance
- Workers Compensation
- Employer or Union Local disability programs
- Insurance payable to the victim for a loss sustained because of the crime
- A contract providing prepaid hospital and other health care services or benefits for disability
Moneys received from any civil or related third party actions. However, the first $1000 recovered is not to be included as money received from another source. This applies even though a settlement or any other resolution of the action is worded to recover any economic loss, such as pain and suffering and property loss, which the VCCO does not compensate.
How do I apply for compensation?
To obtain benefits, you must file a completed claim form and comply with VCCO regulations which are explained in the instructions. You will be asked to submit information to support your application. Where possible and to speed up processing, it would be helpful to submit a copy of a police report and related bills, receipts and insurance statements together with the application. Please send copies only and keep the originals for your own records.
Download Application and Instructions
VCCO applications are available at every law enforcement agency and medical institution in New Jersey. They are required to and make these applications available.
Applications are also available from the 21 county prosecutors’ offices through their respective Victim/Witness Coordinator. The Coordinators will assist crime victims in filling out the form.
You can also get an application from the VCCO. Please call 201-648-2107 for assistance.
Please see Victims of Crime Compensation — FAQs Part 3 for a continuation of this article.
More information about Victims of Violent Crimes Compensation Board
Contact a Personal Injury Attorney in New Jersey
For a concise overview of VCCO Benefits, see our post Victims of Crime Compensation — Benefits in a Nutshell
