Crime Victim Compensation
By: Michelle Kirby, Senior Legislative Attorney
February 10, 2017 | 2017-R-0055

Issue
Provide a summary of the crime victim compensation limits in Connecticut (including any recentchanges to the limits under CGS § 54-211), Massachusetts, New York, and Rhode Island.

Summary
Connecticut, Massachusetts, New York, and Rhode Island all have crime victim compensation
programs under which crime victims may receive compensation for eligible crime-related expenses(e.g., medical, lost wages, and counseling) up toMaximum Payments
certain limits (see sidebar).
Connecticut – Generally $15,000 ($25,000
Under Connecticut law, the Judicial Branch’s Office for death)of Victim Services (OVS) administers the state’s
Massachusetts – $25,000 ($50,000 forcatastrophic injury)
Victim Compensation Program. For good cause
shown and upon a finding of compelling equitable
circumstances, OVS or a victim compensationcommissioner may award amounts above thestatutory maximum. (Under the law, OVS may
receive money from federal and state funds,
businesses or other sources (CGS § 54-203).)

New York – No medical maximum (limits onother expenses ranging from $500 for
certain personal property to $30,000 for
lost wages)
Rhode Island – $25,000

CGS § 54-211 has been amended three times in the past 10 years. None of these changes
affected the statutory maximum. Over the past five sessions, there have been two legislative
proposals to change the award limits; pSB 592 (2017) and pSB 726 (2017) propose to increase
the statutory maximum from $15,000 to $25,000 for sexual assault victims.

www.cga.ct.gov/olr
OLRequest@cga.ct.gov

Connecticut General Assembly
Office of Legislative Research
Stephanie A. D’Ambrose, Director(860) 240-8400
Room 5300
Legislative Office BuildingFor information on crime victim compensation limits in other states, see the National Association ofCrime Victim Compensation Boards' website.

Connecticut's Victim Compensation Awards
Award Limits and Covered Expenses (CGS §§ 54-201, et seq.)
The maximum payments under Connecticut’s Victim Compensation Program are $15,000 for
personal injury, $25,000 for survivor benefits, and $2,000 for counseling for a non-relative childwitness of domestic violence.
Personal injury includes:
1. medical, dental, counseling, and prescription expenses;
2. counseling for relatives of sexual assault, domestic violence, and child abuse victims;
3. cosmetic and plastic surgery;
4. medical-related special needs, such as medical equipment (e.g., wheelchair) andmodifications to a home or vehicle (e.g., ramp);
5. lost wages (does not include going to court); and6. crime scene clean-up (up to $1,000).
Survivor benefits include:
1. funeral (up to $5,000) to any person who paid some or all of the expenses;
2. loss of support for dependents and legal designated decision makers;
3. lost wages and mileage for relatives and legal designated decision makers to attend
criminal court proceedings;
4. counseling for relatives and legal designated decision makers; and5. crime scene clean-up (up to $1,000).

Legislative Amendments
Connecticut's statutory maximums for victim compensation awards is governed by CGS § 54-211.
Over the past five sessions, there have been two legislative proposals to change the award limits;
pSB 592 (2017) and pSB 726 (2017) propose to increase the statutory maximum from $15,000 to$25,000 for sexual assault victims.

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CGS § 54-211 has been amended three times in the past 10 years. None of these changes
affected the statutory maximums.
1. PA 15-195 (§ 6) specifically allows OVS to waive the two-year limitation on crime victim
compensation applications for minors, including minors who are victims of human trafficking
or related federal crimes, if the office finds that the minor is not at fault for missing theapplication deadline (Effective October 1, 2015).
2. PA 12-133 (§ 28) authorizes compensation when OVS or a victim compensationcommissioner reasonably concludes that (a) an alleged sexual assault crime or risk of injury
to a minor occurred and (b) the personal injury was disclosed to certain individuals. The act
also eliminated the $100 deductible on the total amount of victim compensation
determined for an injury (Effective October 1, 2012).
3. PA 06-100 (§§ 2 & 3) permits OVS, for good cause and upon a finding of compelling
equitable circumstances, to (a) waive the time limitation on crime victim compensation
applications and (b) award compensation in an amount in excess of the statutory maximum.
The act also makes eligible for compensation sexual assault victims who fail to report thecrime to the police within the time period but who go to a health care facility within 72 hours
after the assault for a sexual assault examination and evidence collection (Effective October
1, 2006).

Victim Compensation Limits in Neighboring States
Massachusetts (Mass. Gen. Laws Ann. Ch. 258C § 1, et seq.)
The Massachusetts Attorney General's Victim Compensation & Assistance Division assists crime
victims with expenses up to a maximum of $25,000 per crime (up to $50,000 for catastrophic
injuries, such as paralysis, amputations, or second or third degree burns).
The following expenses are covered:
1. medical and dental expenses (including equipment, supplies, and medications);
2. counseling expenses (for victims, for family members of homicide victims, and for children
who witness violence against a family member);
3. funeral or burial costs (up to $8,000 and up to $800 ancillary expenses);
4. lost wages (for victims only);
5. loss of financial support (for dependents of homicide victims);
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Page 3 of 56. homemaker expenses;
7. ancillary funeral or burial;
8. replacement bedding or clothing;
9. crime scene cleanup;
10. forensic sexual assault exam;
11. security measures; and12. counseling for non-offending parents of a child victim.

New York (N.Y. Exec. Law §§ 620, et seq.)
New York's Office of Victim Services compensates victims for expenses related to personal injury,
death, and loss of essential personal property. There are no maximum limits for medical expenses.
Covered expenses include:
1. medical and counseling expenses;
2. loss or damage of essential personal property (up to $500);
3. burial/funeral expenses (up to $6,000);
4. lost wages or lost support including lost wages of parents if a child victim is hospitalized (upto $30,000);
5. transportation (necessary court appearances for prosecution);
6. occupational/vocational rehabilitation;
7. use of shelters by domestic violence victims and their children;
8. crime scene clean-up (up to $2,500);
9. good Samaritan property losses (up to $5,000); and10. moving expenses (up to $2,500).

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Rhode Island (R.I. Gen. Laws. §§ 12-28-1, et. seq.)
Under the Rhode Island Crime Victim Compensation Program, a victim may be eligible forcompensation up to a maximum of $25,000 but there are limits for some expenses, including:
1. funeral and burial up to $8,000;
2. relocation expenses up to $2,500; and3. crime scene clean-up up to $2,000.
The following crime-related expenses are covered if they are not covered by insurance or otherresources:
1. medical, dental, and hospital care;
2. eyeglasses;
3. mental health counseling;
4. sexual assault examinations;
5. funeral and burial costs;
6. crime scene clean-up costs;
7. loss of earnings;
8. loss of support (dependents of deceased only); and9. relocation expenses.
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