MICHIGAN CRIME VICTIMS COMPENSATION:
Can You Receive Compensation:
Yes If You Are:
A person who was injured as a direct result of a crime in Michigan
A person who was injured while trying to help a crime victim
A surviving spouse, parent, child, grandparent, grandchild, brother or sister of a person
who dies as a direct result of a crime
A Michigan resident injured in another state that doesn't pay compensation for a non-resident
A Michigan resident injured outside the U.S. by an act of international terrorism
What Kind Of Financial Help May Be Available?
Injury-related expenses that a person must legally pay and other eligible losses that can be proved
with supporting papers and other evidence
For The Victim:
Hospital bills and medical expenses
Loss of earnings, rehab and remedial services
Counseling for the injured person and family members
Replacement services needed because of the person's injury
For The Survivor:
Funeral and burial expenses
Loss of support for legal dependents of the person who died
Grief counseling for the family
Hospital and medical bills for the person who died if the survivors must legally pay them.
(A person must have at least $200 in out-of-pocket expenses or two continuous weeks loss of earnings
or support. These limits are excused for retired or disabled persons and for emergency room medical
exams for rape victims)
What's Not Covered?
Property loss or damage
Pain & suffering
Crime scene clean-up
Relocation costs, living expenses, or the costs of participating in a trial
Loss of earnings for an injured person's family members
In traffic cases crime victims compensation is limited to the unpaid balance on funeral expenses
after no-fault insurance pays.
Limits On Payments:
$15,000 is the maximum payment
$200 a week is the maximum payment for lost earnings or support
$2000 is the maximum funeral payment. This may include $500 for grief counseling for the spouse,
children,parents, or brothers & sisters of the person who died
26 hours of psychological counseling for the injured person at up to $80 an hour for a licensed therapist
or counselor. Up to $95 an hour for a licensed psychologist or physician
About Other Benefits:
Crime Victims Compensation always pays last. All other public funds and private insurance payments
that a person is eligible for or becomes eligible for must be paid and reported to the program before
compensation can be considered.
Important!!!
A report must be made to police within 48 hours after the injury unless there was a good reason
for a delay or the injured person is a child
The victim must be willing to cooperate with the police and the prosecutor
A person cannot have committed or be an accomplice to the crime
Inmates are not eligible
A claim will be rejected if the victim caused the injury or was doing something illegal and dangerous
at the time of the the injury.
How To Get An Application:
Applications are available from the commission's office, county prosecuting attorneys, victim assistance
agencies, state police posts and other agencies and care providers. Send the fully completed application
to:
Crime Victim Services Commission
320 South Walnut
Lansing MI 48913
Phone: 517-373-7373
When Should You File Your Claim?
Within one year of the date of the injury
Claims for child abuse should be filed within one year of the report to the police and before the child's
19th birthday
When the cause of injury is first thought to be accidental or natural and then is discovered to be criminal,
the claim must be filed within one year of the discovery
A longer time to file a claim will be allowed after a written request shows good reason.
(Good reason could be that the victim was a child or injuries were more serious than first though
or if someone helping the victim didn't follow through with the claim).
You don't have to wait until the investigation or trial is over
You don't need a lawyer. If you use a lawyer, it is at your own expense
What Do You Need To Send In?
A fully completed application
Itemized copies of all bills you want to claim. If you will need more medical treatment,
see if your doctor can give a written estimate of future expenses
If you have insurance or Medicare, send copies of your insurance benefit statements for all expenses
For lost earnings, send copies of recent payroll check stubs and a disability statement from your doctor
For burial assistance, send a copy of the signed itemized funeral bill
For counseling, ask your therapist for the assessment, a treatment plan, and an itemized billing or estimate your therapist can send in the claim for you, if they wish
What If Your Claim Is Turned Down?
You have 30 days to write to us to disagree. You may ask for a review of the file or a hearing before
the commission in Lansing. The decision by the commission is final.
Confidentiality
A person's papers and testimony before the commission are private. They may tell only whether
a person's claim was approved or denied. Any other information will only be released by a court order.
Who Pays?
Money to support this service is paid by criminal defendants convicted in Michigan's courts.
The state also receives money to help crime victims from criminal fines collected in federal courts.
PLEASE NOTE: If you were a victim of a crime prosecuted in Wayne County and believe a judge may
have ordered restitution, the Wayne County Prosecutor's Office has set up a phone line for inquiries.
Call Director of Victim Services Karen Watts at 313-967-2332.
MICHIGAN CRIME VICTIM NOTIFICATION NETWORK
Information:
For defendant or inmate custody status and court information, call 1-800-770-7657 and follow the automated prompts. You may also press "0" anytime during the call to speak to a representative. Callers use basic information, such as prisoner number or name, to search the network database. The network will anonymously provide the caller with offender status, and information on upcoming court events/custody and hearings.
Notification:
In addition, crime victims may choose to register for automated telephone notification when an offender
has a change in custody status throughout the criminal justice process. Registration is confidential.
The prosecuting attorney and the Michigan Department of Corrections will help crime victims register
for notification. The only information required from you is a telephone number which is kept secure and confidential.
How Do You Get Information?
To locate an offender in a county jail or state prison or to receive court information, any person may call the network hotline directly from a touch-tone phone at 1-800-770-7657. Once connected, follow the automated prompts given by the network. The Michigan Crime Victim Notification Network is available in English and Spanish.
How Do You Register For Notification?
To receive network notification of change in court schedules, crime victims may register with their prosecuting attorney. To receive network notification of a change in custody status for offenders housed in state prisons,
crime victims may register with the Michigan Department of Corrections.
Anyone can register to receive network notification of change in custody status for offenders housed in county jails by calling 1-800-770-7657. In all cases, registration is confidential.
What Is A Pin?
If you choose to register for notification, you will receive a PIN (Personal Identification Number). The PIN is
a four-digit number that you choose which will be kept secure and confidential. Select a number that is easy
for you to remember and write it down. After you get a notification call from the network, enter your PIN using
the touch-tone numbers on your telephone. That will let the network system know that you have received the message.
What If I Am Not Home Or My Phone Is Busy When I Receive Notification?
The network is designed to allow every opportunity for you to be notified. If there is no answer or the line
is busy, calls will continue for a minimum of 24 hours. The network will leave a message on an answering
machine, but will continue to call for 24 hours or until the PIN is entered.
Can I Register More Than One Telephone Number With The Network?
Yes, but each registration must be done separately and requires a PIN.
How Does The Michigan Crime Victim Notification Network Enhance My Personal Safety?
This program is designed to provide you with quick and easy access to information and to assist you in
preparing for an offender's release. It is important for you to protect yourself once you are notified of an
offender's release.
Who Sponsors the Michigan Crime Victim Notification Network?
This is a free service of the Michigan Department of Community Health, Crime Victim Services Commission,
in partnership with the Michigan Department of Corrections, Department of Attorney General, Prosecuting Attorneys Coordinating Council, Prosecuting Attorneys Association of Michigan and the Michigan Sheriff's Association.
All costs are paid by assessments collected from convicted criminal defendants.
MICHIGAN VICTIM ASSISTANCE SERVICES
The Detroit Police Victim’s Assistance Program
A 24-hour hotline is set up at (313) 833-1660.
offers free assistance to relatives of homicide victims, including:
Grief and loss, individual and group, counseling
Assistance with victim compensation claims
Support during the criminal justice process
National Domestic Violence Hotline
1-800-799-7233
Michigan Coalition Against Domestic & Sexual Violence
517-347-7000
Michigan Department of Corrections Crime Victim Notification Unit
1-877-886-401
Runaway Hotline
1-800-292-4517
Parents Hotline
1-800-942-4357
Mothers Against Drunk Driving
1-800-323-6233
NATIONAL CRIME VICTIM RESOURCES
Help Other Crime Victims
American Overseas Domestic Violence Crisis Center
Phone: 866-USWOMEN
National Center for Victims of Crime, National Crime Victim Helpline
Phone: 800-FYI-CALL
National Crime Prevention Council
Phone: 800-NCPC-911
National Criminal Justice Reference Service, Office for Victims of Crime Resource Center
Phone: 800-851-3420
National Fraud Information Hotline
Phone: 800-876-7060
National Human Trafficking Resource
Phone: 888-373-7888
National Organization for Victim Assistance
Phone: 800-TRY-NOVA
National Organization of Parents of Murdered Children, Inc.
Phone: 888-818-POMC
United States Postal Inspection Service
Phone: 877-876-2455
