Expanded Access to Compensation for Victims and Survivors of Crime

As of November 5th, 2025, new laws expanded access to compensation for
individuals who have been impacted by homicide and other crimes and
victimized by financial scams. The state Office of Victim Services (OVS) provides a financial safety net for individuals facing out-of-pocket, crime-related expenses without any other means to pay for them. The cap on funeral and burial expenses has been doubled from $6,000 to $12,000, and also, the state law has been amended to eliminate contributory conduct in homicide cases. This change recognizes that individuals who lose someone to a violent, sudden act shouldn’t face financial hardship or lack support as they grieve. Previously, state law allowed the Office of Victim Services to reduce reimbursement for funeral and burial costs and other crime-related expenses up to 50 percent if the agency determined that an individual’s actions contributed to their death. Changes also include:

• Expanded access to crime scene cleanup costs. Previously, an individual could only receive reimbursement (up to $2,500) if they lived where the crime occurred. Now, anyone who pays out-of-pocket for those expenses is eligible to seek OVS assistance.
• Increased support for victims of financial scams. Individuals younger than 18, older than 60, and/or those disabled, physically injured or meet other eligibility criteria may now receive up to $2,500 if they have been victims of financial scams. The cap on reimbursement had been $100.

These changes in compensation occur as OVS continues working to implement the state’s Fair Access to Victim Compensation Act, which takes effect Dec. 31, 2025, and eliminates the need for individuals to report a crime to law enforcement. Instead, OVS will accept documentation from a victim service provider, mental health provider, or medical provider attesting that the person was a victim of a crime. This law, which also extends the timeframe for filing a compensation claim, recognizes that individuals may be reluctant to involve the criminal justice system because of fear of further harm to them or their family, prior experiences with police, or their immigration status, for example.

To learn more or to file a claim with OVS, please visit the OVS website.