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Comprehensive Guide to the Benefits and Resources Offered by the California Victim Compensation Board

The California Victim Compensation Board provides an array of resources and compensation for victims of crime. In addition, the Board also provides financial assistance and other resources to family members of individuals who are the victims of certain crimes. This comprehensive guide is designed to provide you essential information about the California Victim Compensation Board.

Eligibility for Assistance

In order to be eligible for assistance via the California Victim Compensation Board a person must establish that he or she is the victim of a crime that involves:

  • Physical injury
  • The threat of physical injury
  • Death
  • Emotional injury (in certain circumstances)

In addition, certain individuals (spouses, children, parents) may qualify for compensation to cover economic losses sustained from an injury to or death of a family member who was the victim of a covered crime.

Examples of crimes covered by the Board include (but are not limited to):

  • Domestic violence
  • Child abuse
  • Assault
  • Sexual assault
  • Elder abuse
  • Molestation
  • Homicide
  • Robbery
  • Hate crimes
  • Drunk driving
  • Vehicular manslaughter
  • Human trafficking
  • Stalking
  • Online harassment

Other requirements for assistance are:

  • Must be a resident of California or the victim of a crime that occurred in California.
  • Must report the crime to the police, sheriff, child protective services, or some other law enforcement agency.
  • In most cases, apply to the Board within three years of the date the crime was committed.
  • Cooperate with law enforcement during the investigation and prosecution of the crime.
  • Not have been involved in or committed a felony in the events that lead up to the crime.
  • Cooperate with the Board by providing the information needed to review the application when requested.

Expenses Covered by the California Victim Compensation Board

The California Victim Compensation Board provides compensation for a number of crime-related expenses. This list is not exhaustive. Thus, if you believe you have had a loss that is not found on this list, you should contact the Board and ascertain whether or not it is something that the agency will provide compensation to you.

  • Crime scene clean up
  • Funeral and burial expenses
  • Home or vehicle modifications for victims who became disabled
  • Medical and dental treatment
  • Income loss
  • Mental health services
  • Relocation
  • Residential security
  • Service dog

Crime Scene Cleanup

The Board will pay up to $1,000 for crime scene cleanup. As a crime scene cleanup company with extensive experience working with individuals and families during difficult times, Eco Bear has established a flat fee program for crime scene cleanup that never exceeds the $1,000 available from the Board. This proves to be the most reasonable and compassionate fee arrangement in the industry.

Funeral and Burial Expenses

The Board will provide assistance in paying for funeral and burial expenses to a victim who died during the commission of a crime up to $7,500. The compensation will be paid to whoever assumes responsibility for the costs associated with the funeral and burial.

Medical and Dental Expenses

The Fund will pay up to what is called the “application maximum” for medical or dental expense reimbursement. Currently, the application maximum is $70,000.

Income Loss

The Fund will provide income loss to a victim of the crime of up to the application of a maximum of $70,000. In addition, the fund will provide support compensation to dependents of a person killed during the commission of crime up to this $70,000 amount.

Mental Health Services

The Board will pay up to $10,000 to cover costs for mental health assistance and support to a victim of crime. The same benefit is available to family members of a person killed during the commission of a crime. These family members include:

  • Spouse
  • Domestic Partner
  • Parents
  • Children
  • Grandparents
  • Grandchildren
  • Siblings
  • Fiancé or Fiancée

Service Dog

If a victim of crime requires a service dog as a result of that crime, the Board will pay too $10,000 to obtain a service canine.

Compensation Benefit Reference Guide

The amount of compensation paid by the Board for a crime-related loss can change. The most up to date information on compensation provided by the Board is found in the Compensation Benefit Reference Guide.

Apply for Victim Compensation

The application for crime victim compensation is to be downloaded and completed in its entirety. Once completed, the application and supporting documentation needs to be mailed to:

California Victim Compensation Board
P.O. Box 3036
Sacramento, CA 95812-3036

Due to privacy considerations, applications are not accepted via email.

Supporting documentation that must accompany the application includes:

  • A police report of the crime
  • Bills and receipts
  • Other documents related to crime and your losses

The application for assistance from the California Victim Compensation Board is available in a number of languages:

English

Spanish

Arabic

Chinese

Korean

Vietnamese

Russian

Other Languages

Victim Witness Assistance Centers

The California Victim Compensation Board has established 59 Victim Witness Assistance Centers throughout the state of California. (An interactive map is found at this link that can connect you with any Victim Witness Center in the state.) There is one in each county plus an additional center for the residents of the City of Los Angeles. Information on the Centers serving Southern California is found at:

Los Angeles County

Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office
3204 Rosemead Blvd., Suite 200
El Monte, CA 91731
Contact: (800) 492-5944 or (626) 927-2500

Victim-Witness Assistance Program
3204 Rosemead Blvd., Suite 200
El Monte, CA 91731
Contact: (800) 492-5944 or (626) 927-2500

City of Los Angeles

Los Angeles City Attorney’s Office
221 North Figueroa Street Suite 100
Los Angeles, CA 90012
Contact: (213) 978-4537

Orange County

Orange County District Attorney’s Office
401 Civic Center Drive West
Santa Ana, CA 92701
Contact: (714) 834-3600 | Email: [email protected]

Orange County – Community Service Programs, Inc.

Central Justice Center
700 Civic Center Dr. West, Room 292
Santa Ana, CA 92701
Contact: (714) 834-4350

Administrative Office
1221 East Dyer Rd., Ste 120
Santa Ana, CA 92705
Contact: (949) 250-0488 | Email: [email protected]

Riverside County

Riverside County District Attorney’s Office
3960 Orange Street
Riverside, CA 92501
Contact: (951) 955-5400

Santa Barbara County

Santa Barbara County District Attorney’s Office
1112 Santa Barbara Street
Santa Barbara, CA 93101
Contact: (805) 568-2300

Santa Barbara:
Contact: (805) 568-2400

Santa Maria:
Contact: (805) 346-7529

Lompoc:
Contact: (805) 737-7910

San Bernardino County

San Bernardino County District Attorney’s Office
303 W 3rd St
San Bernardino, CA 92415
Contact: (909) 382-3800 | Email: [email protected]

San Diego County

San Diego County District Attorney’s Office
330 W. Broadway, Suite 1300
San Diego, CA 92101
Contact: (619) 531-4040

Victim Services: (619) 531-4041

Ventura County

Ventura County District Attorney’s Office
800 South Victoria Avenue
Ventura, CA 93009
Contact: (805) 654-3622 | Email: [email protected]