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Sonoma County District Attorney
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Crime Victim Compensation

Under California law (Government Code Sections 13959-13969.3), qualifying victims of crime may receive financial assistance for losses resulting from a crime when they cannot be reimbursed by other sources. The State Board of Control, Victims of Crime Program, administers California's Crime Victim Compensation Program.

Victim-Witness Assistance Program staff can assist victims in filing State Victim of Crime Compensation claims and can also provide information about other methods of loss recovery.

In Sonoma County, the Victim Assistance Center, which receives funding from the State Board of Control, is responsible for verifying and processing State Victim of Crime Compensation Claims. It is contracted with the Board to process victim compensation claims. For more information, call (707) 565-8250.

Who is eligible?

  • The victim of the crime who suffers physical and/or emotional injury or a survivor of a person who dies as a direct result of the crime.
  • Anyone legally dependent upon the victim for support.
  • Anyone who was present during the crime and who has a close relationship with the victim.
  • Anyone who must receive psychological treatment as a result of the crime or who should be included in the psychological treatment of the victim.
  • Anyone who takes legal responsibility and/or pays for a victim's medical or burial expenses.
To qualify:
  • The crime must be reported to law enforcement.
  • The victim must cooperate in the investigation and prosecution of any known suspects.
  • The victim must not have contributed to the events that lead up to the crime.
The following losses may be covered by the Program:
  • Medical/Dental treatment
  • Mental Health Counseling
  • Lost income, if the victim is disabled because of the crime
  • Loss of support, for dependants when a victim is killed or disabled because of a crime
  • Funeral and burial expenses
  • Job Retraining
  • Home or vehicle modifications if the victim is disabled because of the crime
  • Home security, if the crime happened in someone's home
  • Emergency relocation
  • Crime scene cleanup, when a homicide happens in someone's home
  • Medically necessary equipment, including wheelchairs, eyeglasses, and hearing aids
The following expenses cannot be paid by the Program:
  • Any expenses paid by your insurance or another source
  • Lost, damaged or stolen property
  • Pain and suffering
  • A person who is on felony probation, on parole, in jail, or in prison cannot be paid by the Program for any expense

Losses not covered by the program may be recoverable, either through court-ordered restitution as a part of a convicted perpetrator's criminal sentence or through the enforcement of a judgment obtained in a civil lawsuit against the alleged perpetrator.

For more information concerning the State Victim of Crime Compensation Program, contact the State Board of Control at their toll-free number, (800) 777-9229. Other information is available on the Victim Compensation and Government Claims Board website.