Crime Victims' Compensation Program

On Aug. 28, 2018, sweeping changes to Missouri’s Crime Victims’ Compensation went into effect. The reforms, which were part of House Bill 1355, make it simpler to apply for compensation, expand the number of people who are eligible, provide victims more time to report their crime, eliminate limits on some categories of payments and the three-year limit on compensation payments, and more. Read more about the changes here.

NOTE: The following is only a summary of the Crime Victims’ Compensation (CVC) Program. Other requirements not listed below may factor into determining compensation. For a more in-depth description of the Program refer to the CVC Program Guidelines. For actual provisions, please refer to the Missouri statutes governing the Program, Chapter 595, RSMo, as amended and the Code of State Regulations 8 CSR 50-6.010.

It is a crime to knowingly provide false information on the application in order to receive any benefits from the Program.

The Crime Victims' Compensation Program financially assists people who have sustained physical, emotional, or mental harm or trauma resulting from the crime upon which the claim is based by paying for reasonable medical and counseling expenses as well as lost wages if the victim was gainfully employed on the crime date. If the victim was killed as a direct result of the crime, the Program can also help the victim’s family members by assisting with the cost of funeral and burial expenses. Counseling expenses can also be considered for family members residing with the victim at the time of the crime or who witnessed the crime. Dependent family members can also receive loss of support if the victim was gainfully employed on the crime date. As a payor of last resort, the Program considers out-of-pocket expenses not covered by collateral sources such as:

Insurance (health, auto, disability)

Workers’ Compensation

Public funds such as Medicaid or Medicare

Paid sick or annual leave

Restitution

Civil suits (personal injury or wrongful death suits)

A maximum benefit of $25,000 may be awarded on eligible claims and may not exceed:

$200 per week for lost wages for crimes occurring prior to Aug. 28, 2015

$400 per week for lost wages for crimes occurring on or after Aug. 28, 2015

$5,000 for funeral expenses

Losses not covered by the Program include, but are not limited to: stolen or damaged property, pain and suffering, crime scene clean-up, relocation, house payments, rent, utilities, food and/or clothing costs, tuition reimbursement, monetary losses from investment schemes or identity theft.

Below are some, but not all, of the requirements that must be met in order to be eligible for reimbursement:

The victim/claimant shall file the application not later than two (2) years after the occurrence of the crime or the discovery of the crime upon which it is based.

The victim/claimant must have reported the crime to proper authorities. In lieu of other records the claimant may provide a sworn statement by the applicant under paragraph (c) of subdivision (2) if section 589.663 that the applicant has good reason to believe that he or she is a victim of domestic violence, rape, sexual assault, human trafficking, or stalking, and fears further violent acts from his or her assailant.

The victim must cooperate with law enforcement if an alleged offender is identified.

The application must be signed.

Claim eligibility is not guaranteed and cannot be determined until the Program staff has completed a thorough investigation of the crime and expenses for which compensation is being sought. The following documents are required for possible compensation (additional documentation may be requested as the claim is processed):