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Law garden / Maine

If you're Jane Doe in Maine

What Maine's crime victim compensation law says, in plain words. Each line links to the exact sentence it comes from.

Maine Crime Victims' Compensation Program, run by Office of the Maine Attorney General, Victims' Compensation Board.

Program phone207-624-7882
Maine AG: Mental Health Counseling Guidelines

Maine AG: Mental Health Counseling GuidelinesME-S5

The program's own page, saved by Tend.

Open it on maine.gov

What the program can pay for

What it does not pay for

  • The program does not cover property losses (a stolen or broken phone, for example), pain and suffering, or other losses that are not medically related.

    Maine AG Victims' Compensation page, What Expenses Are Covered?

    Maine AG Victims' Compensation page, What Expenses Are Covered?ME-EXCL-1

    Expenses NOT covered: property losses, compensation for pain and suffering, and other losses not medically related.

    Read this sentence on maine.gov

  • Property losses are not covered, except replacement of eyeglasses, dentures and other prosthetic devices and some crime scene cleanup costs.

    Maine AG Program Law and History, What Is an Eligible Expense?

    Maine AG Program Law and History, What Is an Eligible Expense?ME-EXCL-2

    No property losses are covered other than replacement costs of eyeglasses, dentures and other prosthetic devices and some costs of crime scene cleanup.

    Read this sentence on maine.gov

The forensic exam

  • You should not get a bill for a sexual assault forensic exam.

    5 M.R.S. 3360-M(3)and 1 more

    5 M.R.S. 3360-M(3)ME-EXAM-1

    The hospital or provider that does a sexual assault forensic exam may not bill the survivor or the survivor's insurer for the exam.

    The hospital or health care practitioner that performs the examination may not bill the victim or the victim's insurer, nonprofit hospital or medical service organization or health maintenance organization for payment of the examination.

    Read this sentence on legislature.maine.gov

    Maine AG SAFE page, Notice to sexual assault victimsME-EXAM-4

    The hospital may not bill the survivor or their insurer for the exam or balance-bill anything over the $750 the program pays. Charges unrelated to the exam, such as x-rays, can still be billed to the survivor or their insurer.

    The hospital may not bill you or your insurer for the sexual assault examination nor for any balance over the $750. This bill will be paid even if you do not report the assault to law enforcement. However: The hospital is allowed to bill you or your insurer for charges unrelated to the sexual assault examination, for x-rays for example.

    Read this sentence on maine.gov

  • The provider should not bill your insurance for it either.

    5 M.R.S. 3360-M(3)and 1 more

    5 M.R.S. 3360-M(3)ME-EXAM-1

    The hospital or provider that does a sexual assault forensic exam may not bill the survivor or the survivor's insurer for the exam.

    The hospital or health care practitioner that performs the examination may not bill the victim or the victim's insurer, nonprofit hospital or medical service organization or health maintenance organization for payment of the examination.

    Read this sentence on legislature.maine.gov

    Maine AG SAFE page, Notice to sexual assault victimsME-EXAM-4

    The hospital may not bill the survivor or their insurer for the exam or balance-bill anything over the $750 the program pays. Charges unrelated to the exam, such as x-rays, can still be billed to the survivor or their insurer.

    The hospital may not bill you or your insurer for the sexual assault examination nor for any balance over the $750. This bill will be paid even if you do not report the assault to law enforcement. However: The hospital is allowed to bill you or your insurer for charges unrelated to the sexual assault examination, for x-rays for example.

    Read this sentence on maine.gov

  • The Victims' Compensation Board pays the provider directly from the Victims' Compensation Fund for the forensic exam, up to $750. The exam includes evidence collection and related testing and treatment for pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases.

    5 M.R.S. 3360-M(2)

    5 M.R.S. 3360-M(2)ME-EXAM-2

    An examination must include at least all services directly related to the gathering of forensic evidence and related testing and treatment for pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases. The board shall pay a licensed hospital or licensed health care practitioner the actual cost of the forensic examination up to a maximum of $750.

    Read this sentence on legislature.maine.gov

  • Direct billing to the Victims' Compensation Board applies only when the exam is done with a sexual assault forensic examination kit. If no kit is used, the provider bills the usual way.

    Maine AG SAFE page, Notice to healthcare providers performing SAFE

    Maine AG SAFE page, Notice to healthcare providers performing SAFEME-EXAM-5

    This direct billing and payment process is to be used only when a forensic examination is performed using a sexual assault forensic examination kit. If a kit is not used, use your customary billing procedures.

    Read this sentence on maine.gov

Police report

  • The program asks that the crime be reported to police.

    5 M.R.S. 3360-C(1)(A)and 2 more

    5 M.R.S. 3360-C(1)(A)ME-REP-1

    For a compensation claim, the crime must be reported to law enforcement within 5 days of the crime, its discovery, or the resulting injury. The board can waive the time limit for good cause and must waive it for a child.

    A. The crime was reported to a law enforcement officer within 5 days of the occurrence or discovery of the crime or of the resultant injury

    Read this sentence on legislature.maine.gov

    5 M.R.S. 3360-C(1)ME-REP-2

    For current or former Maine National Guard members, an unrestricted sexual assault report to the Guard counts as a report to law enforcement.

    an unrestricted report of sexual assault made to the Maine National Guard by a current or former member of the Maine National Guard is a crime reported to a law enforcement officer

    Read this sentence on legislature.maine.gov

    Maine AG SAFE page, Notice to sexual assault victimsME-REP-3

    The free forensic exam does not require a police report, but a regular compensation claim for other costs does.

    If you need help with these expenses, you may file a Victims' Compensation Application, but, in that case, you will need to report the crime to law enforcement and other requirements of the Victims' Compensation Program will apply.

    Read this sentence on maine.gov

  • The survivor does not have to report the assault to law enforcement to get the forensic exam paid for. This applies to the exam payment only; a regular compensation claim still needs a report.

    5 M.R.S. 3360-M(3)

    5 M.R.S. 3360-M(3)ME-EXAM-3

    The victim is not required to report the offense to a law enforcement agency.

    Read this sentence on legislature.maine.gov

  • For a compensation claim, the crime must be reported to law enforcement within 5 days of the crime, its discovery, or the resulting injury. The board can waive the time limit for good cause and must waive it for a child.

    5 M.R.S. 3360-C(1)(A)

    5 M.R.S. 3360-C(1)(A)ME-REP-1

    A. The crime was reported to a law enforcement officer within 5 days of the occurrence or discovery of the crime or of the resultant injury

    Read this sentence on legislature.maine.gov

  • For current or former Maine National Guard members, an unrestricted sexual assault report to the Guard counts as a report to law enforcement.

    5 M.R.S. 3360-C(1)

    5 M.R.S. 3360-C(1)ME-REP-2

    an unrestricted report of sexual assault made to the Maine National Guard by a current or former member of the Maine National Guard is a crime reported to a law enforcement officer

    Read this sentence on legislature.maine.gov

  • The free forensic exam does not require a police report, but a regular compensation claim for other costs does.

    Maine AG SAFE page, Notice to sexual assault victims

    Maine AG SAFE page, Notice to sexual assault victimsME-REP-3

    If you need help with these expenses, you may file a Victims' Compensation Application, but, in that case, you will need to report the crime to law enforcement and other requirements of the Victims' Compensation Program will apply.

    Read this sentence on maine.gov

Deadline to apply

  • Apply within 3 years of the date it happened.

    5 M.R.S. 3360-C(1)(B)

    5 M.R.S. 3360-C(1)(B)ME-DEAD-1

    The claim must be filed within 3 years of the injury or loss, or within 60 days of discovering it, whichever is later.

    B. The claim was filed with the board within 3 years of the occurrence of the injury or compensable loss, or within 60 days of the discovery of injury or compensable loss, whichever is later.

    Read this sentence on legislature.maine.gov

  • If the injury or loss is discovered later, the claim can be filed within 60 days of discovery when that is later than 3 years.

    5 M.R.S. 3360-C(1)(B)

    5 M.R.S. 3360-C(1)(B)ME-DEAD-2

    B. The claim was filed with the board within 3 years of the occurrence of the injury or compensable loss, or within 60 days of the discovery of injury or compensable loss, whichever is later.

    Read this sentence on legislature.maine.gov

  • The board may waive the filing and police-report time limits for good cause, and must waive them on behalf of a child.

    5 M.R.S. 3360-C(3)

    5 M.R.S. 3360-C(3)ME-DEAD-3

    The board may waive the time requirements of subsection 1 for good cause shown and shall waive the time requirements on behalf of a child

    Read this sentence on legislature.maine.gov

Keeping your name and address private

  • The Secretary of State runs an Address Confidentiality Program that gives victims of sexual assault, domestic violence, stalking or human trafficking a designated substitute address, which state and local agencies and courts must use instead of the real one. A survivor applies with the help of a registered application assistant, usually at a victim services program.

    5 M.R.S. 90-B(2)

    5 M.R.S. 90-B(2)ME-ACP-1

    The Address Confidentiality Program is established to protect victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking or human trafficking; minor victims of kidnapping; and reproductive or gender-affirming health care services practitioners by authorizing the use of designated addresses for such victims and practitioners.

    Read this sentence on legislature.maine.gov

  • Everything the Attorney General's office holds about a compensation application or award is confidential and stays confidential with the Board. The Attorney General may still share it, at its discretion, with law enforcement, courts and Corrections for restitution, a claimant in a hearing or appeal, or others to carry out the program.

    5 M.R.S. 3360-D(4)

    5 M.R.S. 3360-D(4)ME-RECCONF-1

    All records and information obtained by or in the possession of the Department of the Attorney General concerning an application for or an award of compensation under this chapter are confidential and may not be disclosed.

    Read this sentence on legislature.maine.gov

How to apply

Good to know before you apply

  • Victims of a covered crime committed in Maine can apply; the statute does not limit this to Maine residents.

    5 M.R.S. 3360-B(1)(A)

    5 M.R.S. 3360-B(1)(A)ME-RES-1

    A. Suffers personal injury as a direct result of a crime specified in section 3360 , committed within the jurisdiction of the State

    Read this sentence on legislature.maine.gov

  • A Maine resident hurt in another state can apply here only if that state has no compensation program Maine residents can use.

    5 M.R.S. 3360-B(1)(C)(3)

    5 M.R.S. 3360-B(1)(C)(3)ME-RES-2

    (3) The crime occurred in another state, but only if the person is a resident of this State and the other state does not have a victim compensation program for which residents of this State are eligible

    Read this sentence on legislature.maine.gov

  • Insurance, other coverage, free care or sliding-scale eligibility must be used first; the program pays after that.

    Maine AG Victims' Compensation page, What Are the Requirements?

    Maine AG Victims' Compensation page, What Are the Requirements?ME-COLL-1

    If a victim has insurance and other coverage or eligibility for free care or a sliding scale, that must be applied to an expense or loss before Victims' Compensation pays

    Read this sentence on maine.gov

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