Finding Balance with Knowledge: What in the World is CVC?
My hope is that you’ve never been the victim of a violent crime, and therefore, have never had any use for CVC . In the unfortunate event that you are, here is a resource I’d like to share with you.
Most states in the United States have some form of compensation for victims of violent crimes. In the state of Texas we have the Crime Victims’ Compensation (CVC) program which is administered by the Office of the Attorney General. This program is separate from restitution or insurance. One of the caveats of working with CVC is they are, “the payer of last resort,” meaning that after you’ve exhausted all other resources, (such as restitution, civil claims, insurance, etc.) then CVC may pay the remaining costs.
CVC financially assists with costs accrued as the result of the crime such as: medical, hospital, or physical therapy, counseling or psychiatric care, relocation assistance for victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking or trafficking, loss of earnings or support, funeral and burial expenses, etc.
To be eligible for CVC in Texas, you must be: a) a resident of the state, b) a resident of another state who’s a victim of a crime in Texas, or c) a Texas resident who’s a victim in another state or country that doesn’t provide compensation. The crime must be reported to law enforcement, and you must be as cooperative as possible in the investigation and prosecution of the crime. The application must be submitted within 3 years of the date of the crime. The victim of the crime, dependents of the victim, authorized individuals acting on behalf of the victim, immediate family or household members, and intervenors may all eligible for services.
Many police departments and district attorney offices in Texas have Victim Advocates who provide information regarding CVC and application assistance. Often in the Dallas and Fort Worth areas, Victim Advocates mail packets of information to crime victims regarding their rights, services, and the CVC application. You can also download or complete an application at www.texasattorneygeneral.gov. My experience has been that it can take up to 4 or 6 weeks for you to receive a response. Responses come by mail. The first response is usually a letter stating what CVC is willing to compensate and the materials they need to reimburse you. You will also receive a direct line to a case worker at the Attorney General’s office.
As I stated earlier, one of the services CVC will compensate is counseling services. This enables clients without insurance to meet with a counselor free of cost. If you have insurance, CVC may reimburse you for the cost of your co-pay and allow your insurance to cover the remainder of the fee. The number of sessions vary; however, my experience has been they are fairly generous so long as the therapist and client are providing appropriate documentation.
For more information regarding crime victims’ right and services in Texas, check out the web link below. Hopefully, this is information you never need, but just in case, you know where to find it!