CRIME VICTIM COMPENSATION PROGRAM

Monday – Friday, 8:00am - 5:00pm

201 W. Colfax Ave., Dept. 801

720-913-9253 (Phone)Denver, CO 80202

720-913-9035 (Fax)

When someone becomes the victim of a crime there can be many challenges, some of which may be financial. In order to better assist crime victims and their families, the Colorado General Assembly enacted C.R.S. 24-4.1, the Crime Victim Compensation Act. Funds are collected through fines assessed on adults and juveniles who are convicted of certain crimes in the City and County of Denver. A three person citizen Board appointed by the District Attorney distributes the funds as allowed by statue and Board policy.

If you or a loved one has been the victim of a violent crime, we may be able to help. Please review the information below.

Persons who qualify

  • Victims of violent crime
  • Families and dependents of deceased victims
  • Persons who are authorized to act on behalf of the victim.
  • Witnesses to certain crimes

Getting Started – please review the information below:

  • In order to be considered for assistance, a victim must complete and submit a signed application. The application is available below.
  • Documentation will be required for every expense that is submitted for consideration.
  • Bills must be submitted to insurance or other sources of payment such as Medicaid, Medicare, or Worker’s Compensation before the Crime Victim Compensation Board can consider payment.

Eligibility requirements (↓ - expand )

  • The crime was reported to the Denver Police Department within 72 hours
  • The victim must cooperate fully with law enforcement in the investigation, apprehension and prosecution of the perpetrator. There does not need to be an arrest or conviction in order to receive compensation
  • The injury or death of the victim was not the result of the victim’s own wrongdoing
  • The application for compensation must be submitted with one year of the crime; six months for property damage claims
  • The crime occurred after July 1, 1982
  • Health and homeowner’s insurance must be used first if available

The Crime Victim Compensation Board may waive some of the above requirements for good cause or in the interest of justice. No other person or agency can guarantee eligibility.

Losses that may be compensable (↓ - expand)

  • Reasonable medical and dental expenses directly related to the crime
  • Mental health expenses
  • Replacement or repair of medically necessary devices such as eye glasses, hearing aids, and dentures
  • Outpatient care
  • Home health care prescribed by a physician or other health professional
  • Funeral and burial expenses
  • Lost wages due to crime injury
  • Loss of support to dependents in the case of a fatality
  • Household support
  • Replacement of exterior doors, locks, and windows damaged as the result of a crime.
  • Other locks as necessary to ensure the safety of a victim
  • Professional crime scene clean-up of bodily fluids

Losses that are not compensable (↓- expand)

  • Personal property loss or damage
  • Replacement or repair of motor vehicles
  • Rent, moving, storage, or other personal bills
  • Loss of cash
  • Pain and suffering

FAQS(↓ - expand)

  • What if no suspect is identified or arrested for the crime, or the District Attorney does not file charges, can I still apply?

Yes, whether a suspect is arrested or charged does not affect your eligibility to apply.

  • Is this assistance automatic because I am the victim of crime that occurred in Denver?

No, in order to receive assistance you must meet the eligibility criteria listed above and you must complete and submit an application to the Crime Victim Compensation program.

  • Can I receive all the services listed above?

Crime Victim Compensation can only assist with services directly related to the crime. Police reports, itemized medical bills, and other documents are reviewed to ensure that the requests are compensable.

  • Why does my insurance need to be billed?

The law makes Crime Victim Compensation the “payer of last resort”. This means that all forms of insurance including private medical insurance, Medicaid, Medicare, Workers Compensation, CICP/ CHP and, when applicable, auto insurance, must be applied to bills before Victim Compensation can pay.

  • Will Crime Victim Compensation pay all my bills?

Compensation for each claim cannot exceed $30,000. Compensation for someservice categories is limited by Board policy. Please contact the Crime Victim Compensation program if you have a questions about specific costs

  • Will you contact the hospital and other providers to get the bills?

No, you must attach itemized bills and receipts to the claim. If you have not received bills, submit the claim and send the bills when you receive them. For some services, such as dental treatment or counseling the Board may also require that the provider submit a treatment plan before the Board will pay.

  • How long does it take for the Board to decide?

The Board meets once a month. Once we have received a completed application with bills and other documentation, the claim will be taken to the Board. Most decisions are made within 45-60 days.

  • What if the Board denies my claim?

If the Board denies your claim, you will receive a letter with the reason for the Board’s denial and notification of your right to ask the Board to reconsider their decision. You may request reconsideration by contacting the program director within 90 days from the date on which you received notice of the denial. You will be given information on the process for reconsideration and the kind of information you should prepare for your request. If the Board upholds the denial of your claim, you may have the decision review according to the Colorado Rules of Civil Procedure

Victim Compensation Application English

Victim Compensation Application Spanish

The Crime Victim Compensation Board and staff shall not discriminate because of race, creed, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation or identity, veteran status, disability, or any other non-merit factor in the acceptance, review and approval of an application or request. To file a discrimination complaint please visit: .

Information for Mental Health Providers

Thank you for your interest in working with victims of crime in our community. Many of you work with Crime Victim Compensation programs in other jurisdictions in addition to Denver. Below is information and frequently asked questions regarding the Denver Crime Victim Compensation program.

Provider Qualification Requirements (↓ - expand)

Educational and licensing requirements:

The Board will pay for services provided by therapists licensed by the Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA) or the licensing body of the state in which the therapist practices.

If the therapist is not licensed, the therapist must have a masters degree in a field such as counseling, psychology, or social work that includes a component of clinical mental health training, and be supervised by a licensed therapist. The licensed therapist providing supervision must review and sign all treatment plans and requests for extensions of therapy developed by the therapists under his/her supervision.

Interns providing therapy must be currently enrolled in a masters program as described above. Training and clinical hours should also reflect an understanding of and ability to treat clients experiencing trauma. A licensed supervisor must be on site and be accessible to the intern. The licensed supervisor must review and sign all treatment plans and requests for extension of treatment submitted by the intern.

Registration with DORA or certification, including that of a Certified Addictions Counselor, will not be considered sufficient without the required academic and clinical training.

FAQS (↓- expand)

  • How do I get on the referral list? The Victim Compensation program in Denver does not have a referral list. The Center for Trauma and Resilience does maintain a list of therapists and they can be contacted at 303-860-0660.
  • Do I have to use the treatment plan form developed by the Board? Yes, the form was designed to elicit specific information to assist the Board in their deliberations. No questions may be omitted and the Board will not accept handwritten treatment plans. The therapist, therapist’s supervisor when applicable and the client or client’s parent or guardian must sign the treatment plan.
  • What is your rate of reimbursement? Victim Compensation reimburses at $90 per individual therapy session and $45 per group session.
  • How often can I see my client? The Board will pay for one, one hour therapy session per week. If specific circumstances exist which require more sessions per week, contact Victim Compensation staff for more information.
  • How should treatment plans and bills be submitted? Treatment plans and bills can be submitted via email,() fax (720-913-9035) or mail All bills must include the client’s name, the dates of service, and the amount charged.
  • How will I know what has been approved? Treatment plans received by the 23rd of the month will be reviewed by the Board at their meeting the following month. A letter will be sent to the therapist and the client indicating how many sessions are approved. Please read the letter as it explains what has been approved and provides additional information.
  • Will I be paid for sessions that occurred prior to receiving the letter? The Board pre-approves payment for three sessions, these sessions are included in the total number of approved sessions. Once the claim and treatment plan have been approved, the Board will pay for sessions provided from the date of crime.
  • Is there a specific number of sessions that the Board awards? Generally the Board will award 24 sessions and the therapist can request an extension of therapy. The Board typically does not award more than 48 sessions. The Board reviews each request to ensure that the primary focus of therapy is related to the crime. If there are circumstances that require more than 48 sessions, please contact the Victim Compensation program for more information.If your client is a secondary victim of crime the award may be for less than 24 sessions
  • Will the Board approve sessions provided by phone or Skype? Victim Compensation funds are for in-person treatment only. If there are circumstances which require sessions to be provided via another method, please contact the Victim Compensation program for more information.
  • My client hasn’t made an appointment for several months, can I resume treatment? If it has been six months or more since the last session, you will be required to submit and request to resume treatment.

Mental health treatment plan

Request to extend/resume treatment