Center for Hope & Safety
Crime Victims’ Compensation
Oregon law says that people who have been victims of crime or are dependents of victims of crime may be able to receive money as compensation for their losses and expenses resulting from the crime. ‘Victim’ means a person who is injured or killed as a result of a compensable crime committed against the victim in Oregon.
A “compensable crime” is an intentional, knowing, or reckless act by a person resulting in physical and/or emotional injury and/or the death of another person. Incidents of domestic and sexual violence may be compensable crimes.
Compensation Losses/Expenses:
The kinds of losses and expenses for which the state may compensate include the following:
- Mental health counseling
- Reasonable medical and hospital expenses
- Eyeglasses, hearing aids, dentures, and other devices that are medically necessary
- Funeral expenses
- Victim’s loss of earnings
- Loss of support to dependents
- Grief counseling for relatives of homicide victims
- Counseling for children who witness domestic violence
- Mileage expenses
To Be Eligible for Compensation You Must:
- Be a victim of a crime which occurred in Oregon.
- Report the crime to the police or sheriff within 72 hours (this may be waived under certain circumstances)
- Cooperate fully to apprehend and prosecute the assailant.
- Not have been involved in a wrongful act and/or did not provoke the assailant.
- Apply for compensation within six months of the crime (this may be waived under certain circumstances).
Victims Are Not Eligible If:
- The crime occurred prior to Oct 4, 1997 and compensable expenses resulting from the crime do not total $100
- The injury or death resulted from an accident
Compensation May Include:
- Up to $20,000 for reasonable medical and/or counseling expenses from a licensed professional
- Loss of earnings/support up to $400 per week to a maximum of $20,000
- Funeral expenses up to a maximum of $3,500
- Rehabilitation up to a maximum of $4,000
- Reimbursement of mileage for medical/mental health treatment over 60 miles round trip when services are not available with another provider within the area.
Not available for crimes committed prior to Oct 4, 1997.
How to Apply:
A victim or dependent of a victim of crime must file an application for compensation under this law.
Applications may be obtained from and filed with:
Crime Victims’ Compensation Program
Department of Justice
1162 Court St NE
Salem, OR 97310
(503) 378-5348
After receiving the application, the Crime Victim’s Compensation Program will process your request for compensation. This requires obtaining police reports, medical reports, employment verification (when applicable), and any other information necessary for the investigation.
If the victim or dependent of the victim has any benefits available, such as sick leave, medical disability or life insurance, social security or restitution, amounts received from those sources will be deducted from any compensation awarded under this program.
The Crime Victims’ Compensation Program will notify applicants in writing of the decision on their claims. An appeals process is available if the applicant disagrees with the decision.
24-hour hotline 503-399-7722
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