What Is Crime Victim Compensation?

Crime Victim Compensation (CVC) is a victim service program created by law, to help ease the financial burden of some crime related expenses. CVC statute, C.R.S. 24-4.1-101 et set limits the types of crimes and losses that are eligible for financial assistance.

Applicants must submit an application along with related bills and receipts.  CVC may require additional documentation in order to process a request.  A three-member board will review your request for eligibility.  

You may apply for CVC even if the offender was not arrested or prosecuted.  

A complete application may take 30-60 days to process.    

Who Is Eligible? 

• People who have been the victim of certain crimes in Adams or Broomfield Counties. 
• Immediate family members, domestic partners, and guardians of victims.
• Witnesses of certain crimes.
• Residents of Adams or Broomfield County who have been injured or killed because of a crime that happened in a state or country that does not have a reasonably accessible CVC program. 

What CVC Can Pay

If approved, CVC can pay for these types of expenses that are caused by the crime:

Medical/Dental:

• If you have medical insurance, all bills must be submitted to insurance first. After insurance has processed your bill(s), you may submit it to CVC for consideration of any remaining balance, co-pay or deductible.

• Total medical and/or dental payout may not exceed $30,000.

• The Board may approve reimbursement of up to 100% of your out of pocket medical or dental expenses (not to exceed $30,000 in total medical/dental payout).

• The Board may approve up to 80% of an outstanding medical and/or dental debt (not to exceed $30,000 in total medical/dental payout).

• The Board may approve up to 100% of your prescription costs (not to exceed $30,000 in total medical/dental payout).

• Physical Therapy, Chiropractic Care, Occupational Therapy, Massage Therapy, Psychological Medication Management and Acupuncture may be approved by the Board as medical care in some circumstances.

Medically Necessary Devices:

• This category includes eyeglasses, hearing aids, dentures, prosthesis and other medical devices that were either damaged during an eligible crime or became necessary due to a criminal injury.

• If you have medical insurance, all bills must be submitted to insurance first. After insurance has processed your bill(s), you may submit it to CVC for consideration of any remaining balance, co-pay or deductible.

• Medically necessary devices are considered a medical expense and may not exceed $30,000 in combination with other medical expenses.

• Eyeglasses (and exam in some circumstances) are limited to $1000.

Mental Health Therapy:

• The Board initially approves 3 assessment sessions for each person approved for therapy.

• After 3 assessment sessions the Board requires a treatment plan for on-going visits. We will work directly with your therapist to get a treatment plan.

• You may choose to see a state licensed therapist. In some circumstances you may see a therapist with a master’s degree who is supervised by a licensed therapist. Not all therapists are willing to accept our rate of pay or are willing to complete our required paperwork. Please ask your therapist if they are willing to work with CVC and if they accept our rate of pay as full payment.

• Please call if you would like assistance locating a CVC friendly therapist.

• CVC pays $140.00 per individual session or $70.00 per family or group session.

• A primary victim could receive up to $6,580.00 for therapy.  The Board will approve the allocation of funds in multiple phases.

• A secondary victim (family members to the primary victim and witnesses) could receive up to $5,040.00 in counseling funds.  The Board will approve the allocation of funds in multiple phases.

• If you have medical insurance, all bills must be submitted to insurance first. After insurance has processed your bill(s), you may submit it to CVC for consideration of any remaining balance, co-pay or deductible.

• Our mental health therapy policies are extensive and not all our policies are indicated above. For a more comprehensive understanding of our mental health policies, please call 303-835-5690.

Property Damage / Victim Safety:

• Claims for property damage assistance are limited to the replacement or repair of exterior residential doors, locks, or windows that were damaged during the criminal incident.

• For safety reasons, the Board may approve the rekeying of residential and/or vehicle locks, as well as safety modifications to the residence, including the installation of security features or devices, provided these measures are directly related to safety concerns stemming from the criminal incident. 

• The Board may approve up to a total of $2,000.00 for all claims submitted under this section.

• If you have renter’s or home-owner’s insurance, all bills must be submitted to insurance first. After insurance has processed your bill(s), you may submit it to CVC for consideration of any remaining balance, co-pay or deductible.

Post Office Box:

• Victims of Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault, or Stalking may be eligible for up to $100.00 for the rental of a P.O. Box to help ensure safety.

Self Defense classes: 

• The Board may consider providing up to $500.00 for the victim to attend an organized self-defense course, such as Krav Maga, Jiu-Jitsu, Karate, Muay Thai, etc.

Relocation: 

• Relocation assistance must be requested within 60 days after the crime and the relocation must occur within 120 days of the Board’s approval to be eligible for reimbursement.  If eligible, the Board may approve up to $5000.00 for the victim to secure safe housing to escape violence directly related to the crime committed against them. 

• Assistance in this category may include rental deposits, first month’s rent, utility deposits, moving expenses, and temporary emergency shelter costs incurred immediately following the criminal incident.

• Our relocation policies are extensive and not all our policies are indicated above. For a more comprehensive understanding, please call 303-835-5690

Lost Wages:

• If the victim is unable to work due to crime related injuries, the board may approve up to 6 consecutive weeks of lost wages.

• Wages will be paid at 80% of gross earnings.

• The Board may approve up to 5 days of bereavement leave for family members of deceased victims.

• All sick and bereavement leave available through the employer must be used before CVC will consider compensating lost wages.

• The applicant must submit the 17th JD CVC Lost Wages Form, completed by their employer, along with recent paystubs. Victims must also submit a letter from a doctor or therapist verifying that they were unable to work due to crime related injuries. If the victim is self-employed, they must submit a current tax return in lieu of a pay stub.

• Time off for medical or counseling appointments, meetings with law enforcement persons or court dates are not eligible for lost wages.

Loss of Household Support from Offender:

• If the offender has left the home they shared with the victim and is no longer providing support to the victim, dependent victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, or child abuse may request assistance for loss of household support.

• If eligible, dependents may receive up to $5,000 in household support to maintain the residence or up to two consecutive months of expenses, which ever limit is reached first.

• The dependent must submit bills for household expenses that occurred within four months following the date of the crime. Household expenses include those related to maintaining the residence, such as mortgage, rent, utilities, insurance, etc.

• The Board may request evidence of dependency, relation, or guardianship.

Funeral or Burial expenses:

• The Board may approve up to an aggregate total of $15,000.00 for the burial, funeral or cremation services, cemetery costs, headstone or permanent marker, or celebration of life services.

Loss of Support to Dependents:

• Surviving dependents may request loss of support when the victim has died because of the crime.

• Dependents may be awarded up to 6 weeks of the deceased victim’s salary.

• The dependent must submit a recent paystub for the victim.

• The Board may request evidence of dependency, relation, or guardianship.

Crime Scene Clean-up:

• The Board may approve up to $5,000.00 for professional cleaning of a residence for the removal of bodily fluids/matter or contamination by other items that leave the residence uninhabitable.

• Crime scene clean-up must be performed by a professional cleaning agency.

• If you have renter’s or home-owner’s insurance, all bills must be submitted to insurance first. After insurance has processed your bill(s), you may submit it to CVC for consideration of any remaining balance, co-pay or deductible.

Replacement Services:

• The Board may approve assistance with reasonable costs for hiring a third party to perform tasks that the victim would perform for themselves or their legal dependents without pay, had they not been injured or killed during the crime.

• Allowable expenses may include but are not limited to the following tasks: cleaning, laundry, lawn care, snow removal, grocery shopping, transporting themselves or dependent family members to necessary appointments, cooking and meal preparation (not including the cost of food). 

• Reimbursement for replacement services is limited to $1000.00 and the service/s must be rendered within 4 months following the crime.

• The Board will require an itemized receipt for services rendered, along with documentation from the treating physician or therapist supporting the need for those services.  Additionally, the Board may request verification of dependency, relationship or guardianship.

• Replacement services are not intended to cover personal care services, medical expenses, or expenses unrelated to non-income producing tasks that the victim performed for themselves or their dependents prior to the crime.

Dependent care:

• The Board may approve assistance with reasonable costs of hiring a third party to care for the victim’s legal dependents, whom the victim regularly cared for without pay prior to the crime but is no longer able to due to their injury or death resulting from the crime.  

• Reimbursement for dependent care services is limited to $2000.00 and the service/s must be rendered within 4 months following the date of the crime. 

• The Board will require an itemized receipt for services rendered, along with documentation from the treating physician or therapist supporting the need for those services.  Additionally, the Board may request verification of dependency, relationship or guardianship.

Travel expenses:

• The Board may approve up to $3000.00 total per person for reasonable travel costs associated with specific crime-related events.  These events are limited to:

• Travel costs related to arranging and/or attending the funeral, burial, or similar end-of-life activities.

• Travel costs for attending crime-related medical, dental, or mental health therapy appointments. 

• Travel costs for attending court hearings that qualify as a Critical Stage, as defined by C.R.S. §24-4.1-302(2), where the victim is not subpoenaed to testify.

• Itemized receipts and documentation verifying attendance will be required for reimbursement.

Vehicle Towing and Impound:

• Towing and Impound assistance is intended to cover the costs incurred by a victim whose vehicle was determined by law enforcement to be the location of a compensable crime, and was subsequently towed and/or impounded by a professional towing company.    

• Reimbursement for Towing and Impound fees is limited to $1,200.00.

• The vehicle must be owned by the victim or a compensable crime. 

• CVC will require itemized invoices/receipts from the towing/storage facility, proof of vehicle ownership, copy of impound report indicating the vehicle was seized as part of a compensable crime, the insurance declarations page showing coverage details at the time of the crime.

Each category has financial limits.  No claim may exceed $30,000 in compensation.

CVC cannot help with losses that are not on this list including stolen property or money, damaged property, damaged or stolen vehicles, or pain and suffering.

Eligibility Requirements

• The crime occurred in Adams or Broomfield County, or, the victim is a resident of Adams or Broomfield County and was a victim of international terrorism in a country that does not have a reasonably accessible CVC program.

• The victim must have sustained mental injury, physical injury, death or damage to exterior residential doors, locks or windows as the result of a compensable crime.

• The victim is reasonably cooperating with law enforcement officials (law enforcement, district attorney, etc.).

• The injury or death of the victim was not the result of the victim’s own wrongdoing or substantial provocation.

• The victimization occurred on, or after July 1, 1982.

• Crimes involving residential property damage to exterior doors, locks, or windows must be reported to law enforcement within 72 hours.

• Application for crimes involving residential property damage to exterior doors, locks, or windows must be submitted within six months from the date of the crime.

The CVC Board can waive some of the eligibility requirements in the interest of justice.  

The CVC statute, C.R.S. 24-4.1-101 limits the types of crimes and losses that are eligible for assistance through this program.  Therefore, CVC cannot help with losses resulting from every crime.  

Eligible Crimes

Not all crimes are eligible for assistance through this program.  Below is a list of crimes that the Board can consider for approval:

• Murder/Homicide
• Manslaughter
• Criminally Negligent Homicide
• Vehicular Homicide
• Assault
• Menacing
• Kidnapping
• Sexual Assault
• Unlawful Sexual Contact
• Sexual Assault on a Child
• Sexual Exploitation of a Child
• Incest
• Indecent Exposure
• Child Abuse/Neglect
• Child Pornography
• Human Trafficking Sex/Labor
• Domestic Violence
• A Bias-Motivated Crime
• Stalking
• Robbery and Burglary
• Vehicular Assault
• Careless Driving Resulting in Death or Injury
• Failure to Stop at the Scene of an Accident (where the accident results in the death of another person)
• DUI that resulted in injury or death
• Violation of a Protection Order (in some situations)
• Arson
• Terrorism

How To Apply

You must be 18 years age or older to apply for Crime Victim Compensation (CVC).  If the victim is under the age of 18, deceased, or incapacitated, an individual authorized to act on their behalf such as a parent or legal guardian must apply on their behalf as the claimant. 

When you are ready, you can apply for CVC in several ways:

Apply Online (recommended): 

Victims and claimants that apply online will have access to the online portal, where they can:

• Submit supporting application documents and bills.

• View the status of their application.

• View the status of bills that they submitted.

Apply Online - Tap Here.

English Application PDF

Spanish Application PDF

Apply by mail, email, or fax:

Victim and claimants may download a paper application by tapping English Application or Spanish Application in the Links To Resources section.

Please read the entire application, including the first and last pages. You only need one application per family, but everyone over the age of 18 must initial and sign the last page.

Completed paper applications and supporting documentation may be submitted by:

•EMAIL:  vcomp@da17.state.co.us

•MAIL: Please submit the CVC application and any supporting documentation to by mail to:

Crime Victim Compensation

1000 Judicial Center Drive Ste 100

Brighton, CO 80601

•FAX: 303-835-4165

Brighton Office

17^th Judicial District Attorney’s Office

1000 Judicial Center Drive, Suite 100

Brighton, CO 80601

Main Office
 303-659-7720

Victim Witness Advocates
 303-659-7735

Broomfield Office

17^th Judicial District Attorney’s Office

17 DesCombes Drive

 Broomfield, CO 80020

 Main Office
720-887-2199

Victim Witness Advocates
720-887-2199

Adams County Sheriff's Office 
303 654-1850
Victim Services 720 322-1154 or
720 322-1240
 Visit Website

Arvada Police Department
720 898-6900
 Victim Services 303-202-2196
 Visit Website

Aurora Police Department
303 627-3100
Victim Services 303 739-6087
Visit Website

Brighton Police Department
303 655-2300
Victim Services 303 655-2308
 Visit Website

Broomfield Police Department
303 438-6400
Victim Services 303 438-6429
or 303 438-6471
Visit Website

Colorado State Patrol
Adams 303 289-4760
Broomfield 303 239-4500
Victim Services 303 273-1618
Visit Website

Commerce City Police Department
303 288-1535
Victim Services 303 655-2308
 Visit Website

Federal Heights Police Department
303 428-8538
Victim Services 720-977-5178
Visit Website

Northglenn Police Department
303 288-1535
Victim Services 303 450-8759
Visit Website

Thornton Police Department
720 977-5150
Victim Services 720 977-5172
Visit Website

Westminster Police Department
303 658-4360
Victim Services 303 658-4210
Visit Website

A Woman’s Place
(Domestic Violence Shelter/Resource)
24-hour crisis line: 970-356-4226
970-351-0476
Visit Website

Address Confidentiality Program
303-866-2208
 1-888-341-0002
Visit Website

Family Tree
Roots of Courage
(Domestic Violence shelter/resources and parenting time program)
303-420-0412
Visit Website

Three Birds Alliance
(Domestic Violence Shelter & Resources)
303-343-1851
www.threebirdsalliance.org

National Domestic Violence Hotline
1-800-799-7233
TTY 1-800-787-3224

Safehouse Denver
(Domestic Violence Shelter/Resource)
303-318-9989
Visit Website

Safehouse Progressive Alliance for Nonviolence
(Shelter)
303-444-2424
1-888-557-4441 (Toll free)
Visit Website

The Initiative
(Serving people with disabilities & the LGBTQ community)
303-839-5510 (Voice/TDD)
Visit Website

Colorado Crisis Services
(24-hr Crisis line)
1-844-493-8255 or
text "TALK" to 38255
Visit Website

For a list of providers who are currently approved to be paid through the Crime Victim Compensation program, tap here or please call: 303-835-5690

Blue Bench
(Sexual Assault Hotline)
303-329-9922 (Office)
303-322-7273 (Hotline)
 303-329-0023 (TDD)
303-329-0031 (Espanol)
Visit Website

Colorado Coalition Against Sexual Assault
(CCASA)
303-839-9999
Visit Website

Moving to End Sexual Assault (MESA)
(Crisis Line)
303-443-7300
Visit Website

National Sexual Assault (24/7) Hotline
1-800-656-HOPE (4673)

SAVA Center
(Sexual Assault Victim Advocate)
970-472-4200
1-877-352-7273
Visit Website

W.I.N.G.S. Foundation
(Adult Survivors of Childhood Sexual Abuse)
303-238-8660
1-800-373-8671
Visit Website

Adams & Broomfield County Coroner's Office
303-659-1027
Visit Website

Adams County Human Services Center
720-523-2000
Visit Website

Adams County Resource Guide (PDF) - English
View/Download PDF

Adams County Resource Guide (PDF) - Spanish
View/Download PDF

Asian Pacific Center
(Services for Asian communities)
303-923-2920
Visit Website

Broomfield County Health & Human Services
720-887-2200
Visit Website

Catholic Charities
303-742-0828

DOVE
(Deaf Overcoming through Empowerment)
303-831-7874
Visit Website

Emergency Family Assistance Association
303-442-3042
Visit Website

Families of Murdered Children and Other Survivors of Homicide
303-748-6395

Justice and Mercy Legal Aid Center
(JAMLAC)
(Legal Assistance)
303-839-1008
Visit Website

Mile High United Way
211 or
1-866-760-6489
Visit Website

Mother Against Drunk Driving
(MADD)
303-425-5905
Visit Website

Project Safeguard
(Protection Orders)
303-637-7761
(Adams County)
Visit Website

Rocky Mountain Immigrant Advocacy Network
(Immigrant Legal Services for child crime victims)
303-433-2812
Visit Website

Rocky Mountain Victim Law Center
(Legal Assistance)
303-295-2001
(Brighton Location)
Visit Website

Servicios De La Raza
(Latino Resource)
DV/SA 24-hour crisis line
303-953-5930
Housing Department
303-953-5940
Office
303-458-5851
Visit Website

Suicide Prevention Hotline
1-800-273-8255 Espanol
888-628-9454 TTY
1-800-799-4889

The Center for Trauma & Resilience
(Serving all crime victims)
303-894-8000 - English
303-718-8289 – Espanol
Visit Website