Basic Qualification Requirements

Residency

The crime must occur in Louisiana or the crime must involve a Louisiana resident who becomes a victim in another state that does not have a crime victim compensation program for which the victim would be eligible.

Reporting the Crime

The crime must be reported to a law enforcement agency within 72 hours after the incident unless there is a good reason why the crime was not reported within this time period.

Filing for Compensation

The application must be filed within a year of the crime unless there is a good reason why the application was not submitted within this time period.

Cooperation

The victim and/or claimant must cooperate fully with law enforcement officials in the investigation and prosecution of the case.

Who May Qualify

An innocent victim of a violent crime who suffers physical and/or emotional harm or death or catastrophic property loss.

A person who legally assumes the obligations or voluntarily pays certain expenses related to the crime on behalf of the victim.

Immediate family members needing counseling as a result of the consequence of death of the victim

Who is Not Eligible

A victim whose own behavior contributed to the crime (in those cases, benefits may be reduced or denied).

A victim or claimant who was engaged in illegal activity at the time of crime.

An offender or an accomplice of the offender.

Anyone who as incarcerated in a penal institution when the crime occurred or who had a felony conviction in the last five years.

Victims of motor vehicle accidents except those listed below ("What Crimes are Covered").

What Crimes Are Covered

Crimes that involve the use of force or the threat of the use of force and result in personal injury, death or catastrophic property loss.

Only these motor vehicle related crimes: DWI, Hit and Run, victim of a driver who is fleeing apprehension by law enforcement, or a victim whose injuries were intentionally inflicted with a vehicle.

What Expenses are Eligible

Reimbursement for property damage or loss is not an eligible expenses. Approved claims may be awarded compensation for the following only if they are related to the crime:

Reasonable medical and prescription expenses

Dental expenses

Mental health counseling

Funeral expenses

Loss of earnings or support

Child care to enable a victim, spouse, surviving spouse of a deceased victim, or guardian to continue employment

Reasonable replacement costs for item or items taken as evidence or made unusable as a result of the criminal investigation.

What Expenses are Not Eligible

Expenses which may not be reimbursed for any reason include:

Property losses except for a catastrophic property loss which is limited to the loss of your current residence provided it is owned and occupied by the victim/claimant.

Pain and Suffering,

Attorney fees except when they are part of an order from a hearing or award by a court of law.

Limits on Awards

Total recovery may not exceed $ 10,000 unless the victim suffered total and permanent disability. Victims who suffer total and permanent disability as a result of their victimization may qualify for up to $25,000.

Recoveries from Other Sources

The Crime Victims Reparations Fund is regarded as the "payer of last resort." It is a secondary source that pays for certain out-of-pocket expenses related to the crime that the victim has no other way to pay. Other sources that have to pay first include:

• HMO/health insurance
• Disability insurance/life insurance
• Vacation time, sick leave or other types of leave paid by an employer
• Worker's compensation benefits
• Social security
• Medicare or Medicaid

The staff of the Crime Victims Reparations Program will work with victims and claimants to make sure all available resources, including the fund, work in the best interest of victims.

If, as a part of a criminal sentence, the court orders an offender to make restitution to the victim for an expense which the Crime Victims Compensation has already paid, the victim may be required to reimburse the fund. If the victim or claimant recovers money as a settlement in a civil suit against the offender or a third party, the victim or claimant may have to reimburse the fund for expenses already paid by the fund.

Application and Claim Forms

Click HERE for Downloads. Applications are also available from all Louisiana Sheriffs' offices. The victim reparations coordinators provide assistance to victims who ask for help in filling out application forms. Victims may also get an application directly from the Crime Victim's Reparations Office by calling 1-888-6VICTIM (in-state only).

How the Application is Reviewed

After receiving an application and related documentation including a complete offense report, the sheriff s office in the parish where the crime occurred reviews the information to see if the crime, the victim and/or claimant are eligible for the program. This process involves verifying all the information presented in the application. Witnesses to the crime, law enforcement officers, and prosecutors involved in investigating and prosecuting the crime, physicians, counselors, hospitals, and employers may be contacted for additional information. A decision about whether the victim or claimant is eligible is usually made within 30 to 45 days. The Sheriff's office works with the victim or claimant to review expenses incurred as a result of the crime and determine which ones are eligible for reimbursement or payment.

The Right to Appeal a Decision

If the Crime Victims Reparations Board makes a decision with which the victim or claimant disagrees, the victim or the claimant has a right under the law to ask that the decision be reconsidered. The victim or claimant must notify the Crime Victims Reparations Board of the reason for their dissatisfaction and provide additional information in this reconsideration process. If the outcome of the reconsideration process is not satisfactory, an appeal may be made to District Court.

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Click HERE for Downloads