The Ohio Attorney General’s Office works with local law enforcement agencies to put crime victims and their families on a path toward rebuilding their lives in the aftermath of violent crime.
After the evidence is collected and statements are taken, crime victims typically need support and assistance. For crime victims still coming to terms with their trauma, navigating an unfamiliar maze of questions and options can be daunting.
Law enforcement agencies can start the process – and fulfill their obligation under the Ohio Revised Code (Section 2930.04) – by providing victims with information about their rights and resources available to them in our Ohio Crime Victims’ Rights booklet.
One of the primary resources the booklet describes, and one our Crime Victim Services Section makes available, is crime victim compensation. The Ohio Victims of Crime Compensation Fund helps eligible victims and their families cover certain out-of-pocket expenses resulting from assault, sexual assault, domestic violence, homicide, menacing and stalking, and certain motor vehicle crimes. Since it was created in 1976, the fund has paid out more than $348 million, including $7.3 million in 2014.
The first step toward obtaining compensation from our Crime Victim Services Section is determining if the victim qualifies, has reported the crime to the appropriate law enforcement agency, and has cooperated with the officer investigating the crime. The compensation process is then started by completing an application, which is available by contacting
www.OhioAttorneyGeneral.gov/Victims, or by contacting the Crime Victim Compensation Program hotline at
800-582-2877, or a prosecutor or victim assistance program.
Victims can track the status of offenders who are in state or county custody through the Victim Information and Notification Everyday (VINE) automated service. Registration is available at
www.vinelink.com, or by calling
800-770-0192.
The Attorney General’s Office also administers federal and state grants to victim service providers that come from federal Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) and State Victims Assistance Act (SVAA) funds. Federal VOCA grants are slated to increase substantially in the 2015-16 funding year and the Attorney General’s Office is analyzing the potential impact and opportunities.