LEGAL MATTERS: Money for Victims of Violent Crime

LEGAL MATTERS: Money for Victims of Violent Crime

The emotional and physical toll inflicted on victims of violent crime is horrible enough, but it can be compounded when victims are forced to incur medical bills for injuries, lose time out of work or, worse yet, their loved ones are faced with funeral expenses.

That is why every state in the country has a Crime Victims Compensation Program. The compensation is designed to ease the financial loss associated with violent crimes.

What's available in Rhode Island?

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Like most programs, the Rhode Island Crime Victims Compensation Program covers uncompensated medical bills; loss of earnings; mental health counseling; and funeral expenses and expenses associated with the loss of support for dependents of homicide victims. Property loss, however, is not covered. In general, these programs cap compensation between $10,000 and $100,000. Rhode Island’s program pays compensation up to a maximum of $25,000.

To apply for compensation a victim or his or her representative must file an application with the Office of the Rhode Island General Treasurer. Generally, this must be done within three years of the date of the injury, although the period is longer if the victim is a minor. To qualify, the crime must have been timely reported to the appropriate law enforcement authorities and the victim must cooperate with the investigation and prosecution of the offender.

Last year, more than 350 persons received compensation through this program.

The contact information for the Crime Victims Compensation Program is:

Crime Victims Compensation Program.

Office of the Rhode Island General Treasurr

50 Service Avenue

Warwick, RI 02886

401-462-7655.

You can download the application at www.treasury.ri.gov/divisions/crimevictim/

The foregoing is offered for informational purposes only and is not legal advice nor does it create an attorney-client relationship.

Susan G. Pegden is a litigation associate with the Law Firm of Hamel, Waxler, Allen & Collins in Providence.  She is admitted to practice in Rhode Island and Massachusetts and is a member of the Board of Governors of the Rhode Island Association of Justice (RIAJ) and a member of the Rhode Island Women’s Bar Association.

Sean P. Feeney is a partner with the Law Firm of Hamel, Waxler, Allen & Collins. He is admitted to practice in Rhode Island, Illinois and Wisconsin. Mr. Feeney is a former special counsel to the City of Providence, military prosecutor with the United States Marine Corps and Special Assistant United States Attorney for the Central District of California.