Crime Victim Assistance

Overview

The Victim Assistance Program is designed to assist victims of violent crime by offering information and referrals, support in dealing with the criminal justice process, and personal advocacy. As a result of their victimization, a person's world can be turned upside down.

Victims are most commonly impacted physically, emotionally, and financially. Through its partnership with various agencies throughout the community, the Victim Assistance staff can assist with recovery in these areas. The Victim Assistance staff is dedicated to helping victims regain a sense of balance and strength as they recover from their traumatic experience.

We have compiled a list of helpful telephone numbers (PDF) for your use.

Texas Crime Victim Rights

A victim of a violent crime is someone who:

  • has suffered bodily injury or death or who has been the victim of sexual assault, kidnapping, or aggravated robbery,
  • the close relative (spouse, parent, or adult brother, sister or child) of a deceased victim, or
  • the guardian of a victim...

See a full document on Victim Rights.

Crime Victims' Compensation

Code of Criminal Procedure, Texas Crime Victims' Compensation Act, Chapter 56, Subchapter B

Purpose: To compensate residents of the United States who suffer personal injury or death as the result of a violent crime, including DWI, Failure to Stop and Render Aid, and certain other vehicular crimes.

Administered by: The Office of the Attorney General, Crime Victims' Compensation Division, Austin, Texas.

Crime Victims' Compensation may be available to pay the amount of expense reasonably and necessarily incurred for:

  1. Medical, counseling, prescription and rehabilitative services; 
  2. Partial loss of earnings because of a disability resulting from personal injury, participation in the criminal justice process, or seeking medical treatment; 
  3. Child care for minor children to enable a victim or spouse of a deceased victim to continue employment; 
  4. Certain funeral and burial expenses; 
  5. Reasonable costs associated with crime scene cleanup; 
  6. Reasonable replacement costs for clothing or bedding taken as evidence or made unusable as a result of the criminal investigation of a sexual assault;
  7. Travel expenses necessary to participate in the criminal justice process and/or seek medical treatment; 
  8. One-time payment of certain relocation expenses in domestic violence and sexual assault

Reimbursement for property damage or loss is not an eligible expense.

In order to qualify for Crime Victims' Compensation: The crime must be reported to law enforcement within a reasonable amount of time unless there are justified extraordinary circumstances. Claim must be filed within three years unless good cause can be shown as to why the claim wasn't filed. The victim must cooperate with law enforcement and prosecution efforts. The victim must be the innocent victim of a violent crime who suffers personal injury.

The Victim Assistance Program of the Cedar Hill Police Department will assist you in applying for benefits from Crime Victims' Compensation. Upon request, we will provide you with the claim form, will send the claim form and required documentation to CVC, and notify service providers that a claim has been applied for and is pending. Please allow us assist you in obtaining these benefits if you feel you may qualify.

For further information you may contact the Texas Attorney General's Office at: 

Crime Victim Services Division
CVC Program Office of the Attorney General - MC011
PO Box 12198
Austin, TX 78711-2198

Or Call: 1-(800)-983-933 or (512) 936-1200 (in Austin) Or Fax: (512) 320-8270