Too many Tennesseans are victims of violent crime. In 2014, there were more than 500,000 crimes committed across the state. Almost 28 percent of those were serious crimes against persons. Of those, more than half were cases of domestic violence.
In 1976, the state legislature initiated the State of Tennessee Criminal Injuries Compensation Fund that is administered by the Tennessee Treasury Department. This fund compensates the victims of violent crime, paying for expenses victims incur as a result of those crimes. Taxpayers pay nothing, rather, all of the state’s court fines, fees and penalties go to this fund.
Under the rules of compensation, there is no automatic payment for victims. Instead, the state reimburses or pays covered expenses for victims and qualified relatives. The maximum allowable amount is $30,000 for all causes and to all eligible recipients.
It is important to note that this fund is one of last resort. If expenses have been paid by the claimant’s medical or homeowner’s insurance, for example, these are not eligible for compensation from the state’s compensation fund.
Not all victims of crime are eligible to receive compensation. Victims of these personal crimes are eligible:
- The injured person
- A dependent or the administrator of the estate of a deceased victim
- Someone injured trying to either prevent a crime or apprehend the perpetrator
- A relative of a deceased victim who was responsible for the costs of burial
- A victim’s child or other relative who received mental health counseling as a result of witnessing the crime
- A parent or sibling of a victim of child sex abuse
Relatives who are eligible for compensation include:
- Spouse and their parents or grandparents
- Parents, stepparents or grandparents of the victim
- Child or grandchild
- Siblings, including half-siblings
There are other rules that govern administration of the fund:
- The crime must occur in the state of Tennessee.
- Unless there is a good reason or the victim is a minor child, the crime must be reported to law enforcement authorities within 48 hours.
- The actions of the victim cannot have contributed to the crime.
- The person seeking compensation must cooperate with law enforcement officials and prosecutors.
- Applicants must file for compensation within one year unless there is a good reason, or the victim is minor child.
The following is a list of eligible expenses for receiving compensation:
- Medical or mental health counseling bills occurred as a direct result of the crime
- Wages lost as a direct result of the crime, subject to documentation
- Permanent disability or impairment
- Burial costs up to $6,000
- Pain and suffering of a victim of sexual abuse, up to $3,000
- If the crime occurs in a person’s primary residence, the fund will pay moving costs, utility transfer fees and storage costs.
- Crime scene cleanup costs of up to $3,000, not including repairs or replacements
- Trial travel expenses of up to $1,250
