Law garden / Connecticut
If you're Jane Doe in Connecticut
What Connecticut's crime victim compensation law says, in plain words. Each line links to the exact sentence it comes from.
Victim Compensation Program, run by State of Connecticut Judicial Branch, Office of Victim Services.
Show the law for this line: Crime Victim Compensation Program brochure, JDP-VS-10 (Rev. 9/26)
Crime Victim Compensation Program brochure, JDP-VS-10 (Rev. 9/26)CT-S5
The program's own page, saved by Tend.
- 3 yearsto apply, from the date it happenedConn. Gen. Stat. 54-211(a)(1)(A)
- Exam can countin place of a police reportConn. Gen. Stat. 54-211(a)(1)(C)
- $0what a forensic exam should cost youConn. Gen. Stat. 19a-112a(e)(1)
What the program can pay for
Compensation for a personal injury is capped at $15,000.
Show the law for this line: Conn. Gen. Stat. 54-211(d)(1)(A)
Conn. Gen. Stat. 54-211(d)(1)(A)CT-CAP-1
Compensation for personal injury shall be in an amount not to exceed fifteen thousand dollars
When the only injury is emotional harm (a mental or emotional impairment caused by a threat of physical injury or death), compensation for medical care, mental health care and security measures is capped at $5,000. Claims involving actual bodily harm fall under the higher personal injury cap (CT-CAP-1) instead.
Show the law for this line: Conn. Gen. Stat. 54-211(d)(1)(D)
Conn. Gen. Stat. 54-211(d)(1)(D)CT-CAP-2
in cases of emotional harm only, compensation for medical and mental health care and security measures shall be in an amount not to exceed five thousand dollars
Medical care
Show the law for this line: Conn. Gen. Stat. 54-210(a)(1)
Conn. Gen. Stat. 54-210(a)(1)CT-COV-1
The program may pay expenses actually and reasonably incurred because of the injury, and must cover medical care for a victim with no insurance or whose coverage is used up.
(1) Expenses actually and reasonably incurred as a result of the personal injury or death of the victim, provided coverage for the cost of medical care and treatment of a crime victim who does not have medical insurance or who has exhausted coverage under applicable health insurance policies or Medicaid shall be ordered
Counseling
Show the law for this line: JD-VS-47, Mental Health Expenses
JD-VS-47, Mental Health ExpensesCT-COV-2
Mental health therapy prescribed by a licensed medical or mental health professional is a covered benefit, including individual, family and group therapy.
Mental health therapy including individual, family, group, medication management, music therapy, art therapy, horse assisted therapy, psychotherapy, tutoring, personal trainer, gym membership, and summer camp prescribed by a licensed medical or mental health professional
Prescriptions
Show the law for this line: JD-VS-47, Medical Expenses
JD-VS-47, Medical ExpensesCT-COV-4
Prescription expenses are listed as covered medical expenses.
Hospital, doctor, cosmetic, and dental fees; co-pays and other medical related expenses, such as physical therapy, ambulance, prescription expenses, medical equipment, eyeglasses, dentures, and supplies
Dental care
Show the law for this line: JD-VS-47, Medical Expenses
JD-VS-47, Medical ExpensesCT-COV-3
Dental fees and dentures are listed as covered medical expenses.
Hospital, doctor, cosmetic, and dental fees; co-pays and other medical related expenses, such as physical therapy, ambulance, prescription expenses, medical equipment, eyeglasses, dentures, and supplies
Travel
Show the law for this line: JDP-VS-10 brochure, Eligible Expenses Continued
JDP-VS-10 brochure, Eligible Expenses ContinuedCT-COV-6
In physical injury cases, travel expenses to attend court, Psychiatric Security Review Board, and Board of Pardons and Paroles proceedings are covered.
For physical injury and homicide cases, lost wages and travel expenses for the victim and/or relatives to attend proceedings at court, the Psychiatric Security Review Board, and the Board of Pardons and Paroles
Lost pay
Show the law for this line: Conn. Gen. Stat. 54-210(a)(2)
Conn. Gen. Stat. 54-210(a)(2)CT-COV-5
The program may pay for loss of earning power caused by the victim's total or partial incapacity.
(2) loss of earning power as a result of total or partial incapacity of such victim
Home security
- Crime scene cleanup and security system expenses share one maximum benefit of $1,000 (not $1,000 each).
Show the law for this line: JD-VS-47, Crime Scene Clean-up and Security Systemsand 1 more
JD-VS-47, Crime Scene Clean-up and Security SystemsCT-COV-7
Security systems, lock, door and window repair, and clothes and bedding held as evidence are covered, subject to the program maximum for this benefit.
Costs for replacement or repair of damaged locks, doors, and windows; clothes and bedding held as evidence; biohazard clean-up; and the cost and installation of security systems
JD-VS-8PI, Section 9CT-CAP-3
CRIME SCENE CLEANUP AND SECURITY SYSTEM EXPENSES (maximum benefit $1,000)
Clothing and bedding
- Replacing clothes and bedding held as evidence falls under the same single up-to-$1,000 benefit as crime scene cleanup and security systems, not a separate $1,000.
Show the law for this line: JD-VS-47, Crime Scene Clean-up and Security Systemsand 1 more
JD-VS-47, Crime Scene Clean-up and Security SystemsCT-COV-8
Replacing clothes and bedding held as evidence is a covered benefit, inside the shared crime scene cleanup and security maximum.
Costs for replacement or repair of damaged locks, doors, and windows; clothes and bedding held as evidence; biohazard clean-up; and the cost and installation of security systems
JDP-VS-10 brochure, Examples of Eligible ExpensesCT-CAP-4
Up to $1,000 for crime scene cleanup, security systems, or replacement of clothes and bedding held as evidence
Crime scene cleanup
- Crime scene cleanup shares the single $1,000 maximum benefit with security system expenses.
Show the law for this line: JD-VS-47, Crime Scene Clean-up and Security Systemsand 1 more
JD-VS-47, Crime Scene Clean-up and Security SystemsCT-COV-9
Biohazard cleanup of a crime scene is a covered benefit, inside the shared crime scene cleanup and security maximum.
Costs for replacement or repair of damaged locks, doors, and windows; clothes and bedding held as evidence; biohazard clean-up; and the cost and installation of security systems
JD-VS-8PI, Section 9CT-CAP-5
CRIME SCENE CLEANUP AND SECURITY SYSTEM EXPENSES (maximum benefit $1,000)
What it does not pay for
Property loss and damage is not an eligible expense, so a lost or damaged phone or other belongings would not be paid. The narrow exceptions are the shared crime scene cleanup, security and evidence clothing and bedding benefit.
Show the law for this line: JDP-VS-10 brochure, Eligible Expenses Continued
JDP-VS-10 brochure, Eligible Expenses ContinuedCT-EXCL-1
Property loss and damage, pain and suffering, and travel to and from medical appointments are not eligible expenses.
Travel to and from medical appointments is not an eligible expense.
Show the law for this line: JDP-VS-10 brochure, Eligible Expenses Continued
JDP-VS-10 brochure, Eligible Expenses ContinuedCT-EXCL-2
Property loss and damage, pain and suffering, and travel to and from medical appointments are not eligible expenses.
The statute bars compensation for property crime losses and for pain and suffering.
Show the law for this line: Conn. Gen. Stat. 54-211(c)
Conn. Gen. Stat. 54-211(c)CT-EXCL-3
no compensation shall be awarded for losses sustained for crimes against property or for noneconomic detriment such as pain and suffering
The forensic exam
You should not get a bill for a sexual assault forensic exam.
Show the law for this line: Conn. Gen. Stat. 19a-112a(e)(1)and 1 more
Conn. Gen. Stat. 19a-112a(e)(1)CT-EXAM-1
No cost of a sexual assault evidence collection exam, including pregnancy and STI testing and preventive treatment under the state protocol, may be charged directly or indirectly to the survivor.
No costs incurred by a health care facility for the examination of a victim of sexual assault, when such examination is performed for the purpose of gathering evidence as prescribed in the protocol, including the costs of testing for pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases and the costs of prophylactic treatment as provided in the protocol, and no costs incurred for a medical forensic assessment interview conducted by a health care facility or provider or by an examiner working in conjunction with a multidisciplinary team established pursuant to section 17a-106a or with a child advocacy center, shall be charged directly or indirectly to such victim.
Conn. Gen. Stat. 19a-112a(e)(2)CT-EXAM-3
Toxicology screening done under the protocol may not be charged to the survivor; the state Division of Scientific Services pays.
No costs incurred by a health care facility for any toxicology screening of a victim of sexual assault, when such screening is performed as prescribed in the protocol, shall be charged directly or indirectly to such victim. Any such costs shall be charged to the Division of Scientific Services within the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection.
Exam costs are charged to the Forensic Sex Evidence Exams account in the Judicial Department.
Show the law for this line: Conn. Gen. Stat. 19a-112a(e)(1)
Conn. Gen. Stat. 19a-112a(e)(1)CT-EXAM-2
Any such costs shall be charged to the Forensic Sex Evidence Exams account in the Judicial Department.
Police report
The program asks for a police report. The rules below say when other records can count instead, like a forensic exam or a protective order.
Show the law for this line: Conn. Gen. Stat. 54-211(a)(1)(C)and 2 more
Conn. Gen. Stat. 54-211(a)(1)(C)CT-REPORT-1
The crime must be reported to police, but a sexual assault survivor does not lose eligibility for skipping the report if they went to a health care facility within 120 hours for an evidence collection exam, or met the disclosure or protective order rules of section 54-209(d).
(C) such incident or offense has been reported to the police, except that a victim of a sexual assault shall not be ineligible for the payment of compensation by reason of failing to make a report pursuant to this subparagraph if such victim presented himself or herself to a health care facility within one hundred twenty hours of such sexual assault for examination and collection of evidence of such sexual assault in accordance with the provisions of section 19a-112a , or if such victim complied with subsection (d) of section 54-209 .
Conn. Gen. Stat. 54-209(d)(1)(K)CT-REPORT-2
A police report is still the default, but for sexual assault offenses, disclosing the injury to a listed professional, such as a sexual assault counselor, a nurse or physician, or a mental health professional, can stand in for it if the office reasonably concludes the offense occurred.
(K) a domestic violence counselor or a sexual assault counselor, as defined in section 52-146k
Conn. Gen. Stat. 54-209(d)(2)CT-REPORT-3
A police report is still the default, but reporting the injury in a restraining order or civil protection order application, where the order was granted after a hearing, can stand in for it if the office reasonably concludes the offense occurred.
the personal injury is reported in an application for a restraining order under section 46b-15 or an application for a civil protection order under section 46b-16a or on the record to the court, provided such restraining order or civil protection order was granted in the Superior Court following a hearing
The crime must be reported to police, but a sexual assault survivor does not lose eligibility for skipping the report if they went to a health care facility within 120 hours for an evidence collection exam, or met the disclosure or protective order rules of section 54-209(d).
Show the law for this line: Conn. Gen. Stat. 54-211(a)(1)(C)
Conn. Gen. Stat. 54-211(a)(1)(C)CT-REPORT-1
(C) such incident or offense has been reported to the police, except that a victim of a sexual assault shall not be ineligible for the payment of compensation by reason of failing to make a report pursuant to this subparagraph if such victim presented himself or herself to a health care facility within one hundred twenty hours of such sexual assault for examination and collection of evidence of such sexual assault in accordance with the provisions of section 19a-112a , or if such victim complied with subsection (d) of section 54-209 .
A police report is still the default, but for sexual assault offenses, disclosing the injury to a listed professional, such as a sexual assault counselor, a nurse or physician, or a mental health professional, can stand in for it if the office reasonably concludes the offense occurred.
Show the law for this line: Conn. Gen. Stat. 54-209(d)(1)(K)
Conn. Gen. Stat. 54-209(d)(1)(K)CT-REPORT-2
(K) a domestic violence counselor or a sexual assault counselor, as defined in section 52-146k
A police report is still the default, but reporting the injury in a restraining order or civil protection order application, where the order was granted after a hearing, can stand in for it if the office reasonably concludes the offense occurred.
Show the law for this line: Conn. Gen. Stat. 54-209(d)(2)
Conn. Gen. Stat. 54-209(d)(2)CT-REPORT-3
the personal injury is reported in an application for a restraining order under section 46b-15 or an application for a civil protection order under section 46b-16a or on the record to the court, provided such restraining order or civil protection order was granted in the Superior Court following a hearing
Deadline to apply
Apply within 3 years of the date it happened.
Show the law for this line: Conn. Gen. Stat. 54-211(a)(1)(A)
Conn. Gen. Stat. 54-211(a)(1)(A)CT-DEADLINE-1
The application must be made within 3 years after the date of the injury; the Office of Victim Services can waive this in some situations.
the application has been made within three years after the date of the personal injury or death
A person who missed the 3-year deadline because of physical, emotional or psychological injuries caused by the crime may apply for a waiver.
Show the law for this line: Conn. Gen. Stat. 54-211(a)(2)
Conn. Gen. Stat. 54-211(a)(2)CT-DEADLINE-2
fails to make application for compensation within three years after the date of the personal injury or death as a result of physical, emotional or psychological injuries caused by such personal injury or death may apply for a waiver of such time limitation
Keeping your name and address private
Connecticut's Address Confidentiality Program, run by the Secretary of the State, gives victims of sexual assault, family violence, stalking and some other crimes a substitute mailing address that state and town agencies must accept, and forwards first-class mail for free. Applying is done with an application assistant at a domestic violence or sexual assault crisis program.
Show the law for this line: Conn. Gen. Stat. sec. 54-240a(a)
Conn. Gen. Stat. sec. 54-240a(a)CT-ACP-1
There shall be an address confidentiality program established in the office of the Secretary of the State to provide a substitute mailing address for any person who wishes to keep such person's residential address confidential because of safety concerns and (1) has been a victim of (A) family violence, (B) injury or risk of injury to a child, (C) kidnapping, (D) sexual assault, (E) stalking
Information the Office of Victim Services or a compensation commissioner receives that is already confidential under another Connecticut law stays confidential while they hold it. The statute does not make the whole claim file confidential.
Show the law for this line: Conn. Gen. Stat. sec. 54-204(b)
Conn. Gen. Stat. sec. 54-204(b)CT-RECCONF-1
Any information received which is confidential in accordance with any provision of the general statutes shall remain confidential while in the custody of the Office of Victim Services or a victim compensation commissioner.
How to apply
Email OVSCompensation@jud.ct.gov
Show the law for this line: JD-VS-8PI, end of Section 10
JD-VS-8PI, end of Section 10CT-SUBMIT-3
The signed application can be emailed to OVSCompensation@jud.ct.gov.
Please send the completed application to: Office of Victim Services, 225 Spring Street, 4th Floor, Wethersfield, CT 06109; or Fax to: 860-263-2780; or Email to: OVSCompensation@jud.ct.gov
Mail Office of Victim Services, 225 Spring Street, 4th Floor, Wethersfield, CT 06109
Show the law for this line: JD-VS-8PI, end of Section 10
JD-VS-8PI, end of Section 10CT-SUBMIT-1
Mail the signed application to the Office of Victim Services, 225 Spring Street, 4th Floor, Wethersfield, CT 06109.
Please send the completed application to: Office of Victim Services, 225 Spring Street, 4th Floor, Wethersfield, CT 06109; or Fax to: 860-263-2780; or Email to: OVSCompensation@jud.ct.gov
Fax 860-263-2780
Show the law for this line: JD-VS-8PI, end of Section 10
JD-VS-8PI, end of Section 10CT-SUBMIT-2
The signed application can be faxed to OVS at 860-263-2780.
Please send the completed application to: Office of Victim Services, 225 Spring Street, 4th Floor, Wethersfield, CT 06109; or Fax to: 860-263-2780; or Email to: OVSCompensation@jud.ct.gov
Phone 1-888-286-7347
Show the law for this line: Crime Victim Compensation Program brochure, JDP-VS-10 (Rev. 9/26)
Crime Victim Compensation Program brochure, JDP-VS-10 (Rev. 9/26)CT-S5
The program's own page, saved by Tend.
Good to know before you apply
A crime that happens in Connecticut is covered no matter where the applicant lives.
Show the law for this line: Conn. Gen. Stat. 54-211(f)(1)
Conn. Gen. Stat. 54-211(f)(1)CT-RES-1
Compensation shall be awarded pursuant to sections 54-201 to 54-218 , inclusive, for personal injury or death resulting from a crime which occurs (1) within this state, regardless of the residency of the applicant
The award takes into account money the applicant received or can receive from other sources, such as insurance and workers' compensation; life insurance is not counted.
Show the law for this line: Conn. Gen. Stat. 54-208(e)
Conn. Gen. Stat. 54-208(e)CT-COLL-1
shall take into consideration any amounts that the applicant has received or is eligible to receive from any other source or sources, including, but not limited to, payments from state and municipal agencies, insurance benefits, and workers' compensation awards
If a sexual assault survivor believes a health insurance claim would cause undue harm by spreading treatment information, the office may waive counting health insurance as a collateral source.
Show the law for this line: Conn. Gen. Stat. 54-208(e)
Conn. Gen. Stat. 54-208(e)CT-COLL-2
In a case involving circumstances under which a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault or child abuse, or a claimant in such a case, believes that the dissemination of treatment information associated with a health insurance claim would cause undue harm, the Office of Victim Services may waive the consideration of health insurance as a collateral source.
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