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ICJI > Victim Compensation Division Victim Compensation Division

Violent Crime Victim Compensation

In 1978, the Indiana General Assembly enacted into law a program to provide financial assistance for violent crime victims known as Indiana Violent Crime Victim Compensation Fund. The fund assists victims or their dependents with medical expenses, funeral expenses, lost wages and psychological counseling.

The compensation fund also allows payment of expenses resulting from the collection of evidence (rape kit) after an alleged sexual assault without the burden of the expense falling on the shoulders of the victim. Limited counseling services can also be covered by the fund if the counseling is physician-ordered.

Funding is provided by a grant from the United States Department of Justice, a percentage of court fees collected statewide, work release money, restitution, 75% of punitive damaged awarded in Indiana, and trust funds.

The 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:

  • an innocent victim of any violent crime, including a motor vehicle crash caused by a drunk driver;
  • a 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;
  • a person who is injured or killed trying to prevent a violent crime or giving aid to a law enforcement officer;
  • mental health counseling for sex crime victims and the immediate family members of a homicide victim

Other requirements include:

  • the crime must have taken place in Indiana;
  • the crime must have been reported to the police within 48 hours;
  • the victim or survivors must have been cooperative in the investigation and prosecution of the crime;
  • application for benefits must be filed no later than 180 days after the crime occurred

Did you know.....

  • A maximum award of up to $15,000 MAY be available to help cover expense resulting from any one injury or death. Eligible crime related expenses include medical bills; up to $4,000 for funeral and burial expenses; up to $2,000 for counseling; lost wages; loss of support; reasonable child care services; attorney fees; emergency shelter services.
  • Applications may be mailed or faxed to our office (317) 233-3912.
  • The compensation program has a statewide toll-free telephone number for victims at 1-800-353-1484. Victims may contact the office to obtain information regarding their compensation application. For confidentiality reasons, informations will be provided only the legal applicant.
  • Emergency funding is available to assist victims of crime who are faced with an immediate, financial hardship that is in direct relation to the crime that consequently leads to the need of services. An application must be filed before an emergency award determination is made.
  • If your organization needs application forms, please contact the CJI 1(800) 353-1484

The Victim Services Division of the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute provides a variety of programs geared toward helping victims and those who assist them. This section is an overview of those programs and other resources.

Applications for benefits must be filed no later than 180 days after the crime occurred.