Step Four: Crime Information

Step Four: Crime Information

Required information includes:

– Where the crime happened

• NOTE: You are eligible for compensation if the crime happened in New York State or if you are a New York State resident and were injured because of terrorism.

– Description of what happened to you and any injuries you received

• Try to be as specific as possible. This will help OVS determine if you are eligible for compensation.

– Type of crime

• The options refer to the NYS criminal law. Make your best guess.

– If the crime was related to domestic violence, alcohol consumption, illegal drug use, bullying, elder abuse, gun violence

• It is a “domestic violence crime” if the victim and the suspect:
  – Are related
  – Are married or dating
  – Were married or dating
  – Have a child in common
• You have the option to answer “I don’t know” or “I prefer not to answer”

– If the crime involved driving a livery cab, is a hate crime, a federal crime, a mass violence incident, or if the victim was helping someone who was experiencing a crime

• You have the option to answer “I don’t know” or “I prefer not to answer”

– Documentation on how the crime was reported

• Police or Criminal Justice report
• Crime Verification Form signed by medical or mental health professional
• Crime Verification Form from Victim Advocate

What you can receive in compensation depends on the type of claim, the type of crime, and other factors.

For Essential Personal Property and Personal Injury claims, you will also be asked if you experienced loss or damage to your personal property because of the crime.

For Personal Injury claims, you can request the following health-related expenses:

• Medical/Dental
• Ambulance 
• Counseling
• Transportation to medical appointments
• Physical rehabilitation services
• Vocational rehabilitation services
• Home modifications
• Vehicle modifications

You can also request the following non-medical expenses:

1. Essential personal property
2. Relocation 
3. Home security devices and installation
4. Restoring property or spaces where a crime happened
5. Transportation to court appearances related to this crime
6. Domestic violence shelter costs
7. Other expenses

Important to know:

• If using a police report as part of this application, must have name of the criminal justice agency, date of crime, and date crime reported.
• If using a crime verification form from a medical professional, you must sign a HIPAA release so OVS can talk to them, and you must have the date of crime and date of the medical exam.
• If using the victim advocate report, you must have date of the crime and approximate date reported to victim advocate.
• If using a mental health attestation, you must have date of crime and approximate date of consult.