Compensation/Restitution

Restitution - In some cases the court orders the defendant to pay the victim to cover property loss or damages or other expenses incurred as a result of the crime.

Compensation - Eligible persons are victims of a crime that occurred in the state of NM who reported the crime to a law enforcement agency.

If any of the following describes your status, you may be eligible to receive money to pay for expenses or damages:

• A victim of a violent crime
• A dependent of a deceased victim, or
• A person authorized to act on behalf of a victim

To qualify, a police report must have been filed within 30 days of the incident.  (There is an exception in cases involving domestic violence or sexual assault allowing them 90 days to file a report.) A victim can be compensated for:

• Medical expenses and/or counseling
• Loss of earnings
• Homemaker and home health services
• Burial expenses
• Loss of support to dependents
• Eyeglasses, hearing aids, and other prosthetic or medically necessary devices

Property damage or loss is usually not a compensated expense. Call the Crime Victims Reparation Commission at 841-9432 to find out how to apply.