CalVCB outlines who qualifies for victim compensation, what benefits are available and how to apply

Cindy Kaiser, outreach specialist for the California Victim Compensation Board (CalVCB), led a webinar presentation describing who may qualify for CalVCB services, the benefits the agency can pay, and how victims or their representatives can apply.

Kaiser told attendees the board reimburses victims for out-of-pocket, crime-related expenses and is “the payer of last resort,” and she said CalVCB also connects victims with services and funds trauma recovery centers across the state.

CalVCB staff emphasized that the program covers a range of direct and derivative victims — including people who suffer physical injury, a threat of physical injury, certain emotional injuries, or who are deceased as a result of a qualifying crime — and that family members, household members and some witnesses can qualify as derivative victims. The board’s overall per-application cap is $70,000.

What qualifies and why it matters: CalVCB said qualifying incidents include violent crimes (domestic violence, sexual assault, assault, vehicular crimes), stalking, human trafficking and some mass-violence incidents. Victims have seven years from the incident or from discovery of injury or death to apply; minor victims have until their…