Overview

In 1978, the Indiana General Assembly established a program to provide financial assistance for victims of violent crime. As the administrator of the Indiana Violent Crime Victim Compensation Fund, the Victim Compensation division strives to assist victims, or their dependents, with certain costs incurred as a direct result of a violent crime.

The Division similarly utilizes the fund to pay for forensic exams, outpatient mental health counseling, and limited medical expenses related to a sexual assault. Under state and federal law a victim of a sexual assult cannot be directly billed for services related to the forensic exam or the collection of evidence.  

The Victim Services Division of the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute provides a variety of programs geared toward helping victims and those who assist them. Program funding is provided by a grant from the U.S. Department of Justice, a percentage of court fees collected statewide, work release money, restitution payments, 75% of punitive damages awarded in Indiana, and state appropriations.

• New! Victim Compensation Online Application
• Victim Compensation Paper Application
• Victim Compensation Paper Application En Espanol

Victim Compensation Fund General Eligibility Requirements

Indiana Code defines a violent crime as a felony or Class A misdemeanor that results in bodily injury or death to the victim. Persons eligible for assistance from this fund include:

• Innocent victims of any violent crime, including a motor vehicle crash caused by a drunk driver;
• A parent, surviving spouse, dependent child or other legal dependent of an innocent victim who has been killed as a result of any violent crime, including a motor vehicle crash caused by a drunk driver; or
• A person who is injured or killed trying to prevent a violent crime or giving aid to a law enforcement officer.

Other requirements include:

• The crime must have taken place in Indiana;
• The victim must have incurred a minimum out-of-pocket loss of $100;
• The crime must have been reported to the police within 72 hours
  (Note: Victims of sexual assault do not have to report the crime to law enforcement unless they choose to apply for compensation related to expenses not covered at the time a forensic exam was completed);
• The victim or survivors must have been cooperative in the investigation and prosecution of the crime;
• An application for benefits must be filed no later than 180 days after the crime occurred;
• Medical expenses must be incurred within 180 days of the crime, but can be extended under certain circumstances.

General Information

A maximum award of up to $15,000 MAY be available to help cover expenses resulting from any one injury or death. Eligible crime related expenses include:

• Medical bills;
• Up to $5,000 for funeral and burial or cremation expenses for victims of certain crimes involving motor vehicle accidents (regardless of marital status);
• Up to $3,000 for outpatient mental health counseling;
• Lost wages;
• Under certain circumstances loss of support to legal dependants of an employed crime victim who is killed;
• Reasonable child care services;
• Limited attorney fees related to a successful appeal; and
• Emergency shelter services.

Emergency funding may be available to assist victims of crime who are faced with an immediate financial hardship resulting from the crime that has led to the need of services. An application must be filed before an emergency award determination is made.

Note: You are still legally responsible for the payment of your bills associated with the crime. Filing an application does not prevent service providers from taking collection steps against you. If you application is approved, you will be reimbursed for eligible out-of-pocket expenses.

Application Information

Applications are available from this website, by contacting your local law enforcement agency or the Victim Services department of your county prosecutor's office. We strongly encourage eligible victims to complete the online application, but if that is not an option completed applications may be mailed, hand delivered, or faxed to the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute at: 101 W. Washington Street, Suite 1170 East, Indianapolis, IN 46204; Fax: (317) 233-3912.

Applications for benefits must be filed no later than 180 days after the crime occurred. Do not wait until the suspect is arrested or convicted. It is not necessary to submit medical bills or police reports at the time you file your application. Additional information will be requested throughout the investigation process.

If you have questions about filling out the application, contact the Violent Crime Victim Compensation division at violentcrimecompensation@cji.in.gov or toll-free at (800) 353-1484. Victims may also inquire about the status of their compensation application by logging into the online system using their assigned claim number and four-digit PIN, or by calling the toll-free number and asking for their assigned claims analyst. To maintain confidentiality, information will only be provided to the legal applicant, unless the division receives written authorization from the victim or claimant to speak to a third party.

If you are an organization that would like to request application forms, please contact the Violent Crime Victim Compensation division at (800) 353-1484.

• Victim Compensation FAQ
• Compensation for Victims; IC 5-2-6.1
• Emergency Svs to Sex Crime Victims; IC 16-21-8
• Victim Services Division Admin Procedure; 203 IAC 1, et seq.