Compensation Rates Increased To Help Crime Victims Rebuild Their Lives

AUSTIN – Attorney General Ken Paxton today announced a wide range of new increases in the amount of financial assistance a victim of violent crime may receive through the Texas Crime Victims’ Compensation Program (CVC) – including the first increases for some limits since the 1990s.

The boosted claim limits represent a continued effort by the Office of the Attorney General (OAG) to assist victims of violent crime. The increased limits take effect for violent crimes committed on or after July 15, 2016. The Texas CVC receives criminal court costs, fees and fines from convicted offenders to reimburse victims and their families for crime-related expenses of up to $50,000 – including loss of income, child care, and funeral and burial costs. No taxpayer dollars are involved.

“The untold story in the aftermath of violent crime is the deep financial toll it can take on survivors and their families who face crime-related expenses not reimbursed by other sources,” Attorney General Paxton said. “While no amount of money can erase the pain inflicted on victims of violent crime, these increases in Texas CVC claim limits will help provide peace of mind for Texans already facing enormous difficulties in their road to recovery.”

For instance, the Texas CVC claim limit for a funeral and burial has been increased from $4,500 to $6,500. Other significant changes include:

• Raising the loss of earnings and loss of support benefits from a maximum of $500 per week to $700.
• Reimbursing child care expenses from $100 per child per week to $300.
• Increasing the crime scene clean-up claim limit from $750 to $2,250.
• Raising the reimbursement for a sexual assault exam from $700 to $1,000.
• Reimbursing property seized at a crime scene from $750 to $1,000.

The Texas CVC program, considered the largest of its kind in the U.S., was created by the Texas Legislature in 1979 and is administered by the Crime Victim Services Division of the attorney general’s office. From January 1, 1980 to June 30, 2016, the program paid out $1.45 billion involving 225,698 victim applications.

For more information about the Texas CVC program, including eligibility requirements, visit the OAG’s website here: https://www.texasattorneygeneral.gov/cvs/crime-victims-compensation

View the list of new Texas CVC program claim limits here:

https://www.texasattorneygeneral.gov/cvs/crime-victims-compensation-reimbursable-expenses