- What services does the Office of Victim Services (OVS) provide?
- How can I recover financially from the crime?
- What rights do crime victims have?
- Is there someone available to provide information and assistance during the court process?
- How can I receive information about an inmate’s status?
- What services are available to crime victims through community-based non-profit agencies?
- What are other related Internet websites that may be of interest to crime victims?
- What is the Sandy Hook Workers Assistance Program/Fund? (PDF)
1.
What services does the Office of Victim Services (OVS)
provide?
The Office of Victim Services provides:
(to learn more about a particular service, please click on that service)
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2.
How can I recover financially from a crime?
Crime Victim Compensation
OVS manages the Criminal Injuries
Compensation Fund to assist crime victims in recovering from the financial and
emotional impact of the crime. This Fund supports the OVS Compensation Program
that provides reimbursement and financial assistance for expenses related to the
crime, such as medical, dental, counseling, and lost wages. The Program does not
provide financial assistance for any non-economic loss, including property loss,
property damage, and pain and suffering.
Learn more about crime victim compensation.
Connecticut Department of Social Services
The Department of
Social Services (DSS) administers programs with varying eligibility requirements
that provide general assistance, burial, and medical benefits. For information
on these and other services, please contact the Information and Referral
toll-free number at 800-842-1508, TTD: 800-842-4524, or
visit the Department of Social Services website.
Insurance
Many private insurance companies, such as your employer, family members’
employers, unions, life insurance policies, credit card and bank insurance
policies, and other insurance sources, may cover part of the crime victim’s cost
of recovery.
Restitution
Restitution is payment by the offender to the victim to cover some or all of the
costs associated with a crime. It is ordered by a judge and usually paid through
the Court Support Services Division, Connecticut Judicial Branch. To request
restitution in a criminal court case, contact the State’s Attorney Office or the
OVS victim services advocate located in the court where the criminal case will
be prosecuted.
Social Security Administration
Victims or their family members may be eligible for survivor benefits, Medicare,
and other social security benefits. For more information, please call the Social
Security Administration (SSA) toll-free at 800-772-1213, TTD: 800-325-0778, or
visit the Social Security Administration
website.
Workers’ Compensation Commission
Available to employees through their employers, workers’ compensation provides
wage replacement benefits and medical treatment for injuries that occurred in
the workplace or on company property. For more information, please call the
Workers’ Compensation Commission (WCC) toll-free, in Connecticut only,
800-223-9675 or
visit the Worker's Compensation Commission website.
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3.
What rights do crime victims have?
Victims of crime
have certain rights defined by Connecticut and federal laws. Among these rights
are notification, attendance at court proceedings, compensation/restitution, and
access to information.
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4.
Is there someone available to provide information and
assistance during the court process?
OVS court-based
victim services advocates help victims of violent crime by notifying them of
their rights and by providing information and assistance. OVS victim services
advocates are available in many of the courthouses throughout the state.
View a contact list of court-based victim services advocates.
OVS Victim Services
Advocates:
- Notify victims of their rights
- Provide information to the victim about the criminal case and
criminal justice system
- Act as a liaison between victims and court personnel
- Escort victims and their family members to court proceedings
- Advocate for victims during court proceedings
- Assist victims with the return of property
- Provide victims with social service referrals
- Assist victims in submitting requests for restitution
- Assist victims and their family members in preparing and delivering a
victim impact statement
- Coordinate victim compensation applications to OVS
OVS Helpline
OVS operates a
toll-free helpline to assist callers in obtaining information on OVS programs
and services as well as referrals to various agencies that assist victims of
crime and their families.
The OVS victim
services advocate assigned to the helpline assists victims whose cases are heard
in a court that does not have an OVS court-based victim services advocate.
Assistance may include informing victims of their rights and of upcoming court
dates as well as helping victims understand the criminal justice system.
For more information, please call OVS at 800-822-8428,
Monday- Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
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5.
How can I receive information about an
inmate’s status?
OVS operates a
Notification Program that offers these services:
- The State of Connecticut's Protection Order Registry Notification
Program features automated notification to protected parties when protective
orders terminate or five weeks prior to the expiration of restraining orders. An
OVS victim services advocate is available to answer questions and provide
referrals that may arise from the notification of the order termination. For
more information, please call OVS at 800-822-8428, Monday - Friday, 8:00 a.m. to
4:30 p.m.
- The Post-Conviction Notification Program offers information about
changes in the status of convicted inmates. This may include the dates and
locations of:
-
Parole hearings*
-
Sentence review*
-
Sentence modification
-
Discharge from a correctional institution
-
Parole release
-
Halfway house release
-
Transitional supervision release
-
Pardons hearings
* By statute,
victims have the right to make a statement at hearings before the Board of
Pardons and Paroles and Sentence Review Division. In lieu of attending
a hearing, the victim may submit a written statement. For further information,
please call OVS at 800-822-8428, Board of Pardons and Paroles at 800-303-2884,
or Sentence Review Division at
860-263-2735.
The
Post-Conviction Notification Program does not provide information regarding
furloughs, non-convicted persons, or convicted persons sent to state hospitals
for mental illness.
Persons who may request notification are:
- Crime victims
- Parents/guardians
- Relatives of crime victims
- Legal representatives of crime victims
- Inmate family members
- State's attorneys
To register for
notification please complete the
Confidential Request for Notification of Status of Inmates. All requests
are confidential. Each registrant is responsible for notifying OVS of telephone
and/or address changes.
For more information, please call OVS at 800-822-8428, Monday - Friday, 8:00 a.m.
to 4:30 p.m.
The Department
of Correction (DOC) Victim Services Unit also operates a confidential victim
notification program that provides notification when an inmate is released,
escapes, or is scheduled for a sentence review or parole hearing. To learn more
about the DOC notification program, please contact the DOC Victim Services Unit
at 888-869-7057 or
visit the Department of Correction website.
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6. What
services are available to victims through community-based
non-profit agencies?
OVS contracts with non-profit
and public organizations to provide services to crime victims. These services
include, but are not limited to, information and referral, criminal justice
support/advocacy, therapy, safety planning, group treatment/support, personal
advocacy and assistance in filing applications for victim compensation.
Funding is provided by the U.S.
Department of Justice Office for Victims of Crime, Victims of Crime Act Victim
Assistance Program, the Connecticut General Fund, and the Criminal Injuries
Compensation Fund.
The organizations listed below receive one or more OVS contracts for
direct services. If your agency is interested in learning about future funding
opportunities, please check the
Bid Opportunities
section of the Judicial Branch web page.
- Catholic Charities Archdiocese of Hartford
860-493-1841
Clinical and support services to survivors of homicide victims
- Charlotte
Hungerford Hospital
860-489-3391
Support services
for children injured as a result of child physical abuse and child sexual abuse
- Child Guidance Center of
Southern Connecticut
203-324-6127
Advocacy and crisis
intervention for child, adolescent, and adult victims at the crime scene
- Clifford Beers Guidance Clinic
203-772-1270
Children injured as
a result of child sexual abuse, child victims/witnesses of domestic violence,
adult victims of domestic violence, and adults molested as children.
-
Community Child Guidance Clinic of Manchester
860-643-2101
Crisis intervention and counseling for child crime victims and their families
- Connecticut Coalition Against
Domestic Violence
860-282-7899,
Hotline: 888-774-2900
Enhanced statewide
shelter-based crisis intervention, referral, and counseling services to victims
of domestic violence. Family Violence Victim Advocate services to adult victims
of domestic violence in local geographic area courts.
- Connecticut Sexual Assault Crisis
Services
860-282-9881,
Hotline: 888-999-5545 (English);
888-568-8332 (Spanish)
Statewide rape crisis intervention and advocacy
services to adult and child victims of sexual assault. Bi-lingual/bi-cultural
Latino crisis intervention and advocacy services to adult and child victims of
sexual assault at selected member centers.
- Domestic Violence Crisis Center – Esperanza CT
203-588-9100
Online service center and 24-7 service phone line designed to provide Spanish-speaking victims of domestic violence with immediate access to information and assistance in their native language.
- Family Centered Services Connecticut
203-624-2600
Neighborhood based victim advocacy services,
focusing on elderly, assault, and robbery victims, and child witnesses of
violent crimes.
- Family Centers, Inc. 203-869-4848
Clinical and support services to survivors of homicide victims
- FSW 203-368-4291
Clinical and
support services to victims of domestic violence
- Human Resources Agency of New
Britain 860-612-1781
Bi-lingual/bi-cultural advocacy and referral services for Polish crime victims
in New Britain
- Klingberg Family Centers 860-243-4416
Clinical and
support services to child victims of physical abuse and sexual abuse
- Mothers Against Drunk Driving CT State Organization, 203-764-2566
Statewide advocacy services,
assistance, information and referrals for victims of impaired and drunk drivers
- St. Francis Hospital Greater Hartford Children's Advocacy Center 860-714-5052
Support, advocacy,
and education to child victims of sexual abuse and their parents
- Survivors of Homicide 860-257-7388
Support, advocacy,
and assistance for surviving family members of homicide victims
- The Hospital of Central Connecticut 860-224-5200
- United Services, Inc. 860-774-2020
Clinical and support services to survivors of homicide victims
-
Wellmore Behavioral Health 203-756-7287
Counseling, support, and advocacy for child victims of physical assault, sexual
assault, and domestic violence. Counseling and support services to adult victims
of domestic violence, sexual assault, or sexual abuse.
-
Yale
University School of Medicine Child Sexual Abuse Clinic
203-688-2468
Support, advocacy, and education to
child victims of sexual abuse and their parents
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7.
What are other related Internet websites that may be
of interest to crime victims?
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Crime Victim Compensation
Crime Victim Compensation is a program administered by OVS that assists eligible
crime victims recover from the financial impact of the crime. The Compensation
Program may only reimburse for certain crime-related expenses that are not
covered by any other source such as medical insurance.
An application
for victim compensation should be filed with OVS within two years of the date of
the personal injury or death; however, a waiver is possible in certain
circumstances.
(Filing an application with OVS does not guarantee that
you will receive a compensation award.)
Who May Apply for Compensation
-
A victim of an eligible crime who
received physical injury or death or was physically injured while assisting
police during a crime
-
A relative* or designated decision
maker of a homicide victim
-
A relative* of a sexual assault,
domestic violence, or
child abuse victim
-
A child who witnesses domestic violence and is not related to the victim
-
A person who is blind or has a disability and owned or kept a
guide or assistance dog that was injured during a crime
Eligibility Requirements
- The crime was reported to the
police within five days or in the case of a sexual assault, a sexual assault
medical examination and evidence collection was completed or the victim of a
sexual assault told certain medical and mental health providers or advocates
about the sexual assault.
-
The victim’s behavior must not have
contributed to the criminal incident.
-
The victim must have suffered
personal injury or death as a result of the incident.
-
The personal injury victim must
cooperate with police and other law enforcement agencies in their efforts to
apprehend and prosecute the offender(s).
-
Other sources of payment do not cover
all eligible costs.
Crimes that are eligible
-
Assault
-
DUI
-
Hit and run
-
Murder
-
Robbery with injury
-
Sexual assault
Crime related expenses that
may be compensated include:
-
Medical and dental costs related to
the crime.
-
Medical costs for injuries incurred
during the commission of a crime to the guide or assistance dog of a blind or
disabled crime victim.
-
Counseling for victims of personal
injury, sexual assault, and child abuse.
-
Counseling for relatives* of victims
of sexual assault and child abuse.
-
Counseling for relatives* of victims of domestic violence.
-
Counseling for non-relative children that witness domestic violence up to $2,000
-
Counseling for relatives* and
designated decision maker of a homicide victim.
- Lost wage reimbursement to
victims of personal injury crimes, including overtime and self-employment income
to cover salary loss due to absence(s) related to the crime. This does not
include attendance at court proceedings.
-
Lost wage reimbursement to attend
court proceedings for relatives* and the designated decision maker of a homicide
victim.
-
Loss of support for dependents and
the designated decision maker of a homicide victim.
-
Funeral costs up to $5,000.
-
Crime scene cleanup up to $1,000.
What expenses are
not covered
- Property loss
- Property damage
- Pain and suffering
- Attorney fees
- Any non-economic loss
How much can be
paid
Up to $15,000 in
reimbursement for expenses related to an eligible personal injury claim.
Up to $25,000 in
reimbursement for expenses related to an eligible homicide claim.
Up to $2,000 in reimbursement for counseling expenses to an eligible non-relative child witness.
For more information about the Compensation Program or to request an application, please call OVS Compensation staff at 888-286-7347 or 860-263-2761 or by e-mail at
OVS@jud.ct.gov.
*All references to relative refer to this definition found in Connecticut General
Statutes § 54-201(4) as “the spouse, parent, grandparent, stepparent, child,
including natural born, step and adopted, grandchild, brother, sister, half
brother, half sister or spouse’s parents.”
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Services for Families of Homicide
Victims
OVS offers
support to families of homicide victims through referrals to counseling,
educational groups, and self-help groups.
-
Family members of homicide victims may receive a limited number of
grief counseling sessions at no cost. OVS contracts with agencies that provide
counseling services.
-
OVS may refer families and friends of homicide victims to a
topic-specific educational support program, which supplements counseling.
-
OVS may provide referrals to self-help groups. These groups are
organized and conducted by group members themselves. They offer support and
understanding to friends and families coping with the loss of a loved one.
For more information, please call toll-free 800-822-8428,
Monday - Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
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Community
Education and Training on Victims’ Rights and Services
OVS serves and
supports crime victims by educating the community about and promoting awareness
of the rights and concerns of Connecticut’s crime victims and of OVS services.
OVS staff provides trainings and presentations to criminal justice system
professionals and the victim assistance community.
OVS also
maintains a Victim Assistance Center, which is a central repository of crime
victim rights and resource information. For more information, please call
800-822-8428, Monday - Friday 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
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The Gail Burns-Smith Sexual Assault Forensic Examiners (SAFE) Program
The OVS Gail Burns-Smith Sexual Assault Forensic Examiners (SAFE) Program
provides timely, compassionate, patient-centered sexual assault forensic examination services to victims of sexual assault, 13 years or older,
who go to a participating hospital within 72 hours of the assault:
Participating Hospitals
- Hartford Hospital
- The Hospital of Central Connecticut (New Britain campus)
- Manchester Memorial Hospital
- Middlesex Hospital
- Saint Francis Hospital
- Windham Hospital
A Sexual Assault Forensic Examiner (SAFE) is a nurse or doctor who has specialized training and education in evidence collection. They have specialized knowledge of legal issues such as chain of custody and courtroom testimony and are trained in sexually transmitted infection (STI) testing and medications.
SAFEs are healthcare providers who help other healthcare providers decide which STI tests and medications should be given in sexual assaults. They also help in the care of sexual assault related injuries, discharge, and referrals.
SAFEs work closely with sexual assault victim advocates, hospital staff, law enforcement, and criminal prosecutors to provide victims of sexual assault with comprehensive and compassionate services.
For more information about the SAFE Program, please call OVS toll-free at 1-800-822-8428.
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