Louisiana Commission of Law Enforcement Crime Victims Reparations Program Effective July 1982, the State of Louisiana established a program for the payment of compensation to the victims of certain crimes. The law, known as the Crime Victims Reparations Act, created the Crime Victims Reparations Board and established the Crime Victims Reparations Fund. The Board administers the Act's provisions and awards payments from the fund. Income for the fund is composed primarily of monies paid as costs levied on criminal court costs. Funds are supplemented by federal grant, court ordered restitution from criminals, donations and interest.
To apply for the Crime Victims Award, you must meet the following requirements:
Believe you are a victim of a violent crime. Are the victim’s legal representative (his/her attorney or the person legally responsible for the expenses). Are the victim's dependent. A claim may be filed regardless of whether the offender is known, has been arrested, and/or has been found guilty. The crime must have been committed after July 16, 1982 and occurred in Louisiana or in a state or country with no compensation program. You must have reported the crime to law enforcement officials within 72 hours unless there was a good cause for filing late. You must file the application within one year from the date of the crime unless there was a good cause for filing late. You must provide the required information on the application. Your losses must not be reimbursable from any other source such as insurance, sick or annual leave, social security, Medicare, Medicaid, civil suit, or restitution. If you have access to any of these resources, you must use those first. You must cooperate with the reasonable requests of law enforcement officials.
The Crime Must:
Involve the USE OF FORCE or threat of use of force and result in PERSONAL INJURY, DEATH OR CATASTROPHIC PROPERTY LOSS and result in expenses allowed by the statue and not reimbursable from any other source.
Vehicular Crimes (motor vehicle, boat or aircraft) are not included unless you are:
The victim of a DWI driver. The victim of a hit and run driver. The victim of a driver who is fleeing the scene of a crime in which he knowingly participated. The victim whose injuries were intentionally inflicted with a vehicle.
You may be Denied an award if:
You do not comply with the application requirements above. You are the offender or an accessory to the crime. You are confined in any type of correctional facility. You were involved in a drug related incident. The Board finds the implication of you behavior at the time of the crime contributed to the incident. The victims had a criminal history which included a felony conviction in the last five years. You were a willing passenger in a vehicle driven by an intoxicated driver. You are operating a vehicle at the time of the crime without the required insurance. You were not wearing a seatbelt as required.
To Apply for a Crime which occurred in Tangipahoa Parish Contact: Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff's Office 15475 Club Deluxe Rd. Hammond, LA 70403 985-345-6150