Frequently Asked Questions

If you answered yes to any of the following questions, you could be eligible for Crime Victim Compensation.

Are you any of the following:

• An innocent victim who has suffered injury from a crime?
• A dependent or legal representative of an innocent victim who has been killed as a result of a crime?
• A person who was injured while aiding a crime victim or helping a police officer?
• A person who has suffered a reaction from the death of a family or household member?
• A person who was injured in an automobile accident caused by an intoxicated driver?

Eligibility

• The crime must have been reported to a law enforcement agency within 5 days of the crime.
• The applicant must file a claim within 1 year of the date of the crime. This may be waived in certain circumstances.
• The victim must be current with court-ordered child support or maintenance payments.
• The victim's conduct must not have caused or contributed to the crime that led to an injury or death.
• The victim must not have committed a crime that led to the injury or death.
• The victim must cooperate with law enforcement officials in their investigation and prosecution of the crime.
• The applicant must cooperate with the Wisconsin Department of Justice in supplying information for the claim.

Car Accidents

If the victim was injured in a car accident caused by a drunk driver, the victim must have been:

• A pedestrian or a passenger in the other car
• A child passenger in the offender's car
• Unaware that the driver was under the influence of alcohol or an illegal drug

If you are a victim of a crime you can receive up to $40,000 for any one injury or death, including:

• Medical, hospital, surgical, pharmacy, and mental health counseling expenses.
• Lost wages.
• Loss of support to a dependent of a crime victim who is killed.
• Reasonable replacement cost of clothing or bedding held as evidence by the police, prosecutor, or crime lab-up to $300.
• Reasonable replacement value for property held as evidence and made unusable by crime lab testing-up to $200.
• Reasonable and necessary costs for securing and cleaning a crime scene-up to $1000.
• Cost of homemaker services.
• An additional $2000 may be paid for reasonable funeral expenses.
• No property loss or damage is covered other than those describe above.

Note: The State of Wisconsin pays only those out-of-pocket expenses that are not paid or payable by a private or group insurance plan, public funds, or any other source, including the offender. If you receive monies from the offender or a third party through restitution or any civil action, you must re-pay the state for any monies paid out on your behalf.