Crime Victim Compensation
Program Details
READ THIS FIRST: We are sorry you or your family were hurt because of a crime. While no amount of money can erase the impact of a violent crime, Crime Victim Compensation (CVC) provides up to$30,000 in reimbursement for expenses related to a compensable crime.
Being victimized in a criminal act is a very traumatic experience. We have taken strong steps in Colorado and in the 4th Judicial District to focus on the rights of victims and their need for compensation prior to the conclusion of the criminal case. The Colorado Victim Compensation Act has provided a way for victims to receive funds for medical bills, therapy and other expenses that are incurred. There is no requirement that the criminal case be completed, or that the defendant be arrested before these benefits can be awarded.
The Victim Compensation Board is a group of professionals who volunteer their time to review the applications for these benefits. The funds that are given to victims are obtained through court costs assessed to convicted defendants in other cases. There are no taxpayer funds used for this program. The District Attorney’s Office acts as an advisor to this board and provides assistance in the compilation of applications and disbursement of funds. We are extremely pleased that our board responds promptly to the victims of crime who deserve the assistance and compassion of our justice system.
Michael J. Allen
District Attorney
Office of the District Attorney
105 E. Vermijo
Colorado Springs, CO 80903
719-520-6000
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What Is Crime Victim Compensation?
Since the Crime Victim Compensation Act of Colorado was enacted on July 1, 1982, it has helped many victims of crime pay for losses incurred as a result of that crime. Funds are collected from fines paid by convicted defendants. Awards to victims are made by the Crime Victim Compensation Board, whose three members are local citizens appointed by the District Attorney.
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.
To Qualify You Must:
Be a victim of a compensable crime, a relative of a victim, or a witness at the scene of a crime. In general, a compensable crime is one resulting in physical or psychological injury to any person.
Eligibility Requirements*
- The crime must have been committed in El Paso or Teller Counties, Colorado.
- The applicant must cooperate reasonably with law enforcement agencies and prosecutors.
- If the applicant has insurance, these benefits must be used before compensation funds can be paid.
- The victim must not have provoked the crime.
- The victim must not have been committing, assisting, or attempting to commit a crime at the time of loss
*Some of these requirements may be waived in the "interest of justice" by the board.
Compensable Losses Include
- Reasonable medical or dental expenses
- Mental health counseling & alternatives
- Replacement or repair of dentures, hearing aids, eyeglasses, and other medically necessary devices
- Lost wages
- Burial/Funeral expenses
- Loss of support to dependents
- Limited travel expenses
- Relocation
- Dependent Care
- Replacement services
- Crime scene cleaning
- Repair/replacement of exterior residential doors, locks, and/or windows
- Towing/impound fees if the victim's vehicle is the location where the crime occurred
- Re-keying of motor vehicles and certain motor vehicle repair expenses if the vehicle is the victim's primary residence
Compensation does not cover:
- Loss of money or any personal property
- Damaged or stolen vehicles
- Pain and suffering
Financial Limits
Victims may be compensated for compensable loses up to $30,000.00
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 online or by contacting our office:
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.
Contact the District Attorney's Office at 719-520-6000 to request an application or download one from the DA's website.
RESOURCES AND IMPORTANT PHONE NUMBERS
Brighton Office
17th 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
17th 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
