Comfort and Help
The City victim services advocates comfort individuals and families through difficult
times and situations, help guide them through the criminal justice system and inform
victims of their rights under the law. Assist in guiding the victim to obtain financial
compensation and referral services to eligible persons.
How to Apply
Contact the Coconut Creek Victim Advocate Unit at 973-6700 for further information.
Victim Advocate
Attend Attorney General Training sessions
for Victim
•
Transportation of victims to essential services
•
Completion of Crimes Compensation forms
•
Assistance with property return
What Benefits Are Available?
•
Loss of support for persons who were principally dependent on a deceased victim who
earned income at the time of the crime
•
Disability allowance when a victim becomes disabled as a result of
a crime
•
Payment of funeral/burial expenses for a deceased victim
•
Reimbursement for medical or dental treatment expenses (including ambulance
charges, hospital expenses, and physician/dentist costs)
•
Reimbursement for prescriptions, eyeglasses, dentures or prosthetic
devices needed as a result of a crime
•
Reimbursement for mental health counseling
•
Reimbursement for property loss for elderly or disabled adults only
•
Lost wages for a victim who missed work as a result of a crime
Who Qualifies? *
•
Victims who received personal, physical, psychiatric or psychological injury as the
result of a crime. Some exceptions may apply for victims who did not sustain a personal or physical
injury
•
Survivors of a victim who was killed as a result of a felony or misdemeanor
crime punishable under federal or state law, including DUI (motor vehicle, boating or aircraft)
and hit and run if the crime was reported to law enforcement within 72 hours
•
If the application was filed within one year after the crime
•
If the victim has fully cooperated with law enforcement and the state
attorneys office
•
If the victim was not engaged in an unlawful activity
•
If the victim did not contribute to his/her own injuries
•
If the victim or claimant must not have been in custody or confined
at the time of the crime
•
If the victim or claimant must not have been adjudicated as a habitual
felony offender, habitual violent offender, violent career criminal, or adjudicated guilty of a
forcible felony offense
* A criminal background check is conducted on all victims and/or claimants who submit
a claim.
Who Can Apply?
•
Any victim or intervener
•
The surviving spouse or parent of a deceased victim
•
The surviving adult child or sibling of a deceased victim
•
The guardian applying for a minor child victim, incompetent person,
surviving minor sibling of a deceased victim
•
Minors less than 16 years old that were present at the scene of a violent
crime, who saw or heard the crime and suffered psychological or psychiatric injury as a direct result
•
A relative applying on behalf of a deceased victim when there is no
other source for payment of funeral expenses
•
Any other person who is dependent for his/her principal support upon
a deceased victim or intervener
What's Needed to Apply?
•
A completed and signed victim compensation claim form
•
The law enforcement report concerning the crime
•
Proof crime related expenses (for example, itemized bills)
•
Proof of third-party payments such as insurance, restitution, judgments
or settlements
•
Proof of the time lost from work due to the crime and a doctor's statement
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