Frequently Asked Questions

Restitution is a court action that requires perpetrators to make financial payments to their victims, usually as a condition of probation or leniency in sentencing.

Victim compensation is provided by the victim compensation program in each state. For additional information about compensation, view the Victim Compensation section of our website.

All states, Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Guam receive Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) formula grants, administered by OVC, to support compensation programs for crime victims.

Although each state compensation program is administered independently, most programs have similar eligibility requirements and offer comparable benefits. Compensation is paid only when other financial resources, such as private insurance and offender restitution, do not cover the loss. Some expenses are not covered by most compensation programs, including theft, damage, and property loss. State compensation programs are not required to compensate victims in terrorism cases. More information on OVC guidelines for victim compensation is available in the Victims of Crime Act Victim Compensation Program Guidelines.

For additional information, please contact your State Victim Compensation Program.

The amount of money appropriated to each state's victim compensation program is available from the latest Crime Victims Fund Compensation and Assistance Allocation Charts on our Funding & Awards: Formula Grants page.

Visit our Help for Victims microsite to learn about resources and services for victims of crime.

Another source of help is your local victim/witness assistance program. You may contact the VictimConnect helpline by phone or text at 855-484-2846 or online chat for a referral in your area.

Find out more in this brochure, What You Can Do If You Are a Victim of Crime, which includes a brief overview of OVC, your rights, and where you can get help.

The Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) specifically requires compensation to crime victims and survivors of criminal violence for certain expenses resulting from physical injury from a compensable crime as defined by the state.

VOCA places priority on violent crime, but it does not prohibit coverage of nonviolent crimes. States may choose to broaden the range of compensable crimes to include those involving threats of injury or economic crime where victims are traumatized but not physically injured. Please keep in mind that eligibility requirements, in the end, are left up to the state.

Please contact your State Victim Compensation Program to learn about eligibility requirements. 

According to the Victim Compensation Program Guidelines, at a minimum, the Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) requires states to award compensation for medical expenses, mental health counseling, lost wages, and funeral expenses when they are attributable to a compensable crime.

For more information regarding expenses covered in your state, please contact your State Victim Compensation Program.

Victim compensation eligibility is determined by each State Victim Compensation Program.

For additional information, visit the Victim Compensation section of our website.

View the comprehensive VOCApedia: Victim Assistance Program Final Rule to find answers to frequently asked questions that VOCA administrators have about the VOCA Victim Assistance Final Rule. If you have questions which are not answered on in VOCApedia, please contact the OVC Resource Center at askovc@ncjrs.gov.

To date, Crime Victims Fund (Fund) dollars have always come from offenders convicted of federal crimes, not from taxpayers. Information on the Fund is available on the Crime Victims Fund section of our website.

If you applied for victim compensation through your state victim compensation program and have any questions, including information about the status of your claim, contact your state victim compensation program directly. A list of state victim compensation programs is available on our Help in Your State page.

Visit the OVC Help for Victims microsite to find additional information and referrals which may also assist you.