What is it? Financial assistance available from the State for victims of violent crime for certain actual out-of pocket expenses. The Crime Victims Reparations Board is part of the Office of Justice Programs within the Minnesota Department of Public Safety. Established in 1974 and funded primarily by the State General Fund and federal grants derived from fines paid by federal inmates. For more information, visit the
state's website.
Telephone:651-201-7300
Toll-Free:1-888-622-8799
TTY: 651-205-4827
Fax: 651-296-5787
Persons Eligible
- Victim who has been physically or emotionally injured as a result of a crime or in an effort to prevent a crime or apprehend a suspect.
- Dependent who has incurred economic loss.
- Person who is paying for services for a victim (includes medical and psychological care, child care, etc.).
- Estate of a deceased victim if the estate has incurred economic loss.
- Secondary victims (parents, siblings, spouse/domestic partner, children) – limitations apply.
- Witness to a violent crime.
- Person who discovered the body of a crime victim.
Eligibility Requirements
- The crime occurred in Minnesota (all states have their own compensation programs and rules).
- Claim filed within three years (very limited exceptions).
- Crime reported to police within 30 days (exempt from 30 day requirement-child abuse, sexual assault, inability to report—but these crimes must still be reported to police).
- Cooperated fully with police and prosecutor, and must agree to pursue charges.
- No contributory misconduct or negligence (some may get a reduced amount).
- Evidence of a crime. Prosecution or conviction not necessary, but helpful factor in Board’s determining if a crime occurred.
- Expenses must be first submitted to insurance companies and applicants must use providers that accept their insurance. Reparations will only pay expenses that cannot be covered by some other source of funding.
Not Exceptions to Filing Deadline
- Victim/complainant did not know Reparations existed.
- Victim was incompetent, but a parent or guardian was managing his/her affairs.
- Victim was a minor at the time.
Type of Crime Covered
- Crimes Against Persons, those crimes that pose a substantial threat of personal injury or death, including but not limited to:
- Homicide
- Assault
- Domestic Abuse
- Sexual Assault
- Child Abuse (physical and sexual)
- Kidnapping
- Arson
- Robbery
- Stalking/Harassment
- Vehicular crashes involving:
- intentionally inflicting injury or death through use of a vehicle
- driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs
- felony hit and run
- fleeing the scene of a crime
- criminal vehicular homicide and injury
Covered Expenses - varying rate limits and caps apply
- Funeral and burial expenses ($7,500 maximum)
- Medicals--Hospital, physician, dentists, prescriptions, ambulance, other transportation
- Physical therapy
- Chiropractic care
- Mental health care ($7,500 maximum)
- Lost wages (various limits)
- Loss of support for dependents of homicide victims
- Household services
- Substitute child care
- Return abducted child
- Ambulance
- Prosthesis/wheelchair
- Dental care
- Crime scene clean up
The maximum amount of reparations allowed as a result of one crime is $50,000.
Not Covered
- Property crimes and losses.
- Injuries resulting from other vehicular crashes or crimes including careless driving, failure to yield, and lack of insurance.
- Moving expenses.
- Chemical dependency treatment.
- School tuition.