7 FAM 1960
CRIME VICTIM ASSISTANCE, COMPENSATION PROGRAMS, AND RESOURCES
(CT:CON-885; 10-24-2019)
(Office of Origin: CA/OCS)
7 FAM 1961 CRIME VICTIM ASSISTANCE
(CT:CON-885; 10-24-2019)
Thousands of specialized victim assistance programs have been established throughout the U.S. to assist in providing crisis intervention, mental health counseling and resources, emergency shelter, emergency transportation, and criminal justice advocacy and information to crime victims. Assistance programs often include hotlines for sexual assault, crisis counseling, shelter or other resources for victims of domestic violence, and child abuse diagnostic treatment facilities. These programs are often available to local residents who have been victims of crime while traveling abroad. Services are often provided at little or no cost to the victim.
7 FAM 1962 CRIME VICTIM COMPENSATION
(CT:CON-885; 10-24-2019)
a. Crime victim compensation may be a crucial financial resource for many U.S. citizen victims of crime traveling abroad. All states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam, and the U.S. Virgin Islands have a crime victim compensation program that may provide reimbursement to residents who are crime victims for certain expenses. Some states extend reimbursement to their residents if they are a victim of crime overseas as a payer of last resort, meaning compensation from foreign governments, insurance benefits, etc. should be exhausted prior to reimbursement. State crime victim assistance programs vary by and primarily include fees for medical services, medical evacuation, counseling, funeral and burial expenses, and loss of support for dependents of homicide victims and lost wages. While eligibility requirements vary by state, typical requirements include a violent crime, police reports, a completed compensation application within the required filling time, and receipts.
b. In many circumstances, money is not available up front, and reimbursement may take weeks or months.
c. Many countries have crime victim compensation programs for their residents; some even have compensation programs for foreign nationals victimized in their jurisdiction. You may wish to review and update information regarding compensation programs available in the host country.
d. We do not make determinations regarding eligibility for victim compensation.
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Victim compensation is money paid from a public fund to victims to reimburse certain out-of-pocket expenses incurred as a direct result of a violent crime perpetrated against them. |
e. Consult with CA/OCS/ACS to facilitate contact with the state compensation program or to identify other U.S. resources.
7 FAM 1963 Resources
(CT:CON-885; 10-24-2019)
FBI’s Victim Services Division (VSD) The Victim Services Division (VSD) is responsible for ensuring that victims of crimes investigated by the FBI receive the information, assistance and support services they are entitled to under law and that will help victims and their families cope with the impact of terrorism and other crimes.
(1) The Terrorism and Special Jurisdiction Unit (TSJU) within VSD provides crisis intervention and other emergency assistance to victims and families of victims injured, murdered, or taken hostage in terrorist attacks within the U.S. and outside the U.S.
(2) The VSD administers emergency victim assistance funds to assist with emergency travel, repatriation of victims’ remains, medically assisted transport, and other exigent needs of victims and their families.
(3) The TSJU is responsible for making sure that victims of terrorism receive case status updates, employer and creditor assistance, safe and sensitive return of personal effects, and information on and assistance with accessing counseling and other support services. The FBI’s responsibility to inform and assist victims lasts throughout the investigation.
7 FAM 1964 International Terrorism Victim Expense Reimbursement Program (ITVERP)
(CT:CON-885; 10-24-2019)
Congress established the International Terrorism Victim Expense Reimbursement Program (ITVERP) through the Victims of Trafficking and Violence Protection Act (VTVPA) of 2000 to reimburse certain expenses to eligible victims of acts of international terrorism. Eligible victims include U.S. nationals and foreign nationals working for the U.S. government at the time of the terrorist act.
(1) ITVERP maintains information on their website on events designated as terrorisms by DOJ.
(2) ITVERP is authorized to reimburse eligible victims of acts of international terrorism that occur outside the United States for expenses incurred as a direct result of their victimization.
(3) Through ITVERP, OVC provides reimbursement for expenses related to medical and mental health care, funeral and burial, repatriation of the victim’s remains, property loss, and miscellaneous expenses such as emergency travel.
7 FAM 1965 through 1969 Unassigned