Financial Help

Crime Victims Compensation Program

If you are a survivor of violent crime, like sexual assault, or are the family member, guardian, or dependent of a survivor you may be eligible for financial assistance from the Crime Victims Compensation Program (CVCP).

The CVCP will pay for bills that are not covered by other sources such as private health, automobile, or life insurance, medical aid programs, and Social Security Income or Disability.

What Expenses Are Covered?

The following is a partial list of covered expenses.

  • Crime-related medical and mental health counseling bills
  • Funeral and burial costs (up to $3,000)
  • Wages, support, or services lost as a direct result of the crime
  • The cost of cleaning a crime scene
  • The replacement cost of clothing held as evidence

What Determines Eligibility?

  • A claim for compensation must be filed within 1 year after the crime or 1 year after learning of the CVCP,
  • The victim must have been injured in the District of Columbia or as the result of a terrorist act committed outside of the US,
  • A police report must have been filed within 7 days of the crime – In cases of sexual assault, seeking medical treatment is sufficient – and,
  • The award can not unjustly enrich the offender.

    • If you would like more information on the CVCP you can call 202.879.4216. Also, applications for assistance are available at DC Metropolitan Police Department and Capitol/Park Police Stations, DC area hospital emergency rooms, and the Victim/Witness Assistance Unit of the US Attorneys Office.

    It Happened to Alexa Foundation

    It Happened to Alexa Foundation provides family members or trusted friends financial assistance to be able to attend a court trial with their loved one who is a survivor of rape or sexual assault.

    The Foundation offers financial assistance for transportation and housing costs, so that the survivor’s support person can attend and take part in the criminal justice proceedings and be with them at this most difficult time.

    Who Is Eligible?

    Survivors of sexual assault who reside in the U.S., and who are about to testify in the criminal trial can apply for financial assistance to cover the expenses of a support person or persons who will accompany the rape/sexual assault survivor to court.

    Support persons can be parents, guardians, other family members or close friends of the survivor - the location of the trial must be over 60 miles from the residence of the support persons in order to qualify.

    For more information on It Happened to Alexa Foundation and how to apply for assistance, visit their website at http://www.ithappenedtoalexa.org/Welcome.html or call 877-77-ALEXA (25392).

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