Who is Eligible

A person must be a victim of a qualifying crime involving physical injury or death to qualify for compensation. For certain crimes, emotional injury alone is all that needs to be sustained. Certain family members or other loved ones of deceased victims may also qualify.

Criteria:

THE VICTIM:
  • did not contribute, provoke, instigate or otherwise partake in act leading to their injuries.
  • for crimes occurring up until June 30, 2025, victims must cooperate with law-enforcement agencies and the courts
THE CRIME:
  • was committed in Virginia, or a country where Virginia residents are not eligible for compensation
  • is promptly reported to proper authorities.
    • For crimes committed on or after July 1, 2025, the following factors will be considered:
      • Police records, and
      • Victim’s physical, mental, emotional and family situation, and
      • The existence of a permanent protective order issued by a court where the victim and offender of the crime are the relevant parties

        •  
        Victims should include a written explanation of these factors with their application.

    • For crimes occurring between July 1, 1998, and June 30, 2025, the following factors will be considered:
      • Police records must show that the victim reported the crime to proper authorities within 120 hours (5 days), unless there is a good cause for the delay.
      • Victims should include a written explanation of the delayed reporting in their application.

For assistance with applying or if you feel you do not meet the eligibility requirements, please click here for local and online resources available in your area.

The application must be filed within 1 year of the crime incident. If more than a year has passed, please include a letter explaining the delay in filing the application.

If a victim is 18 years or older, and they are not incapacitated, they must file their own application, even if they were a minor at the time of the crime.

If the victim was under the age of 18, the victim has until 10 years after their 18th birthday or legal emancipation to file a claim.

If a victim is a minor or an incapacitated adult, the clamant must be a natural parent or legal guardian. If the claimant is not the parent, documentation to prove guardianship is required.

Hospitals, physicians, and funeral homes cannot complete applications on behalf of their patients or clients.

 

Eligible Crimes for VVF Program
  • Abduction (must result in personal physical injury)
  • Arson (must result in personal physical injury)
  • Battery (must be physical touch resulting in injury)
  • Brandishing firearm 3rd or subsequent (need verification of conviction) (must result in personal physical injury)
  • Carjacking (must result in personal physical injury)
  • Child Abuse (must result in personal physical injury)
  • Breaking and Entering (must result in personal physical injury)
  • Robbery (must result in personal physical injury)
  • Sexual abuse (minors and adults) (must result in personal physical injury)
  • Stalking with emotional injuries (must result in personal physical injury) (§ 18.2-60.3)
  • Terrorism (must result in personal physical injury)
  • Violent felonies with emotional or physical injuries (in § 17.1-805 (C))
  • Felony violation of a protective order (3rd w/in 20 years) (need verification of conviction)
  • Driving while intoxicated (DWI) with physical injuries § 18.2-266 or 18.2-51.4 (need verification of conviction)
  • Felony hit and run with physical injuries from § 46.2-894 (need verification of conviction)
Crimes NOT Eligible for VVF Program
  • Misdemeanor assault (no physical contact)
  • Misdemeanor hit and run
  • Misdemeanor violation of protective order
  • Misdemeanor brandishing a firearm
  • Property crimes, such as:
    • Destruction of property
    • Larceny/theft/stealing
    • Fraud
    • Forgery
    • Uttering
    • Trespassing
  • Traffic violations, such as:
    • Reckless driving
    • failure to yield
    • disregard stop light
  • Traffic accidents w/injuries

 

  • Law enforcement officers engaged in performance of their duties
  • A person who is criminally responsible for the crime upon which a claim is based, or an accomplice or accessory of such person
  • A person is not eligible if he is a criminally responsible person who would unjustly benefit from an award
  • Persons who do not cooperate with a law enforcement agency in the apprehension and conviction of a criminal committing the crime