Crime Victim Compensation Program
If you or a loved one has been victimized by a violent crime, the Crime Victim Compensation (CVC) Program may be able to help. While no amount of money can ease the trauma of a violent crime, CVC can help relieve the resulting financial burden on victims and their families.
The 21st Judicial District CVC Program provides up to $30,000 in reimbursement for expenses related to violent crime in Mesa County.
The CVC Program can help pay bills from a crime even when the person who did the crime was not arrested or found guilty at trial.
Frequently asked questions
You may be eligible for CVC assistance if:
- You or your family are the victim(s) of a crime that happened in Mesa County, Colorado;
OR - You or your family live in Mesa County, Colorado, and are hurt because of a crime that happened in a state or country that does not have a CVC program.
AND
- The crime happened on or after July 1, 1982, and
- The victim cooperated with the police and prosecution, and
- The victim was physically or emotionally injured or died as a result of the crime or
- The victim needs re-keying of a car to make the victim safe, and
- The victim was not hurt or killed because they were doing something wrong, and
- The victim was not hurt or killed because they did something to cause their injuries.
- Medical Care and Bills - This can include acupuncture, acupressure, chiropractic, massage, kinetics, holistic, and culturally specific care.
- Dental Care and Bills
- Corrective Devices - This can include eyeglasses, contact lenses, hearing aids, dentures, prosthetic devices, new prescriptions, or any other medically necessary device or equipment that has been ordered or prescribed by a medical provider.
- Crime Scene Sanitation
- Funeral and Burial Expenses
- Loss of Support - Defendant's Income (a.k.a. Household Support)
- Loss of Support - Death of Victim
- Loss of Wages - This is limited to earnings lost that were not covered by sick time, vacation time, or paid time off.
- Mental Health Therapy
- PO Box Rental
- Property Damage - This is limited to the doors, locks, or windows of the victim's home that were damaged during the crime. This may also include rekeying a vehicle.
- Relocation
- Travel costs related to medical treatment, funeral/burial attendance, and critical event attendance.
- Victim Safety Devices
- Repair or replacement of vehicles
- Personal property loss and damage (e.g. cell phones, clothing, electronics, furniture, etc...)
- Theft/Loss of Money
- Repair of interior residential doors, walls, and floors.
- Pain and Suffering
- Medical/Dental Treatment not related to the crime
- Missed appointments, cancellation fees, no-call no-show fees, etc...
- Marriage counseling
- Any crime involving domestic violence
- Assaults (1st, 2nd, & 3rd degree)
- Bias-Motivated Crime
- Burglary (1st degree & 2nd degree of a dwelling)
- Careless Driving that Results in the Injury/Death of Another Person
- Child Abuse
- Child Prostitution (Soliciting, Procurement, Pimping, Inducement, or Patronizing)
- Crimes Against At-Risk Adults or Juveniles
- Criminally Negligent Homicide
- Driving Under the Influence (DUI) or Driving While Impaired (DWI) that results in residential property damage to or bodily injury or death of another person or results in loss of or damage to eyeglasses, dentures, hearing aids, or other prosthetic or medically necessary devices.
- Failure to stop at the scene of an accident where the accident results in the death or serious bodily injury of another person.
- Human Trafficking
- Incest
- Indecent Exposure
- Intimidating a Witness or Victim
- Invasion of Privacy for Sexual Gratification
- Kidnapping (1st and 2nd degree)
- Manslaughter
- Menacing
- Murder
- Posting a Private Image for Harassment of Pecuniary Gain
- Retaliation Against a Judge, Prosecutor, or Juror
- Retaliation Against a Witness or Victim
- Robbery
- Sexual Assault
- Sexual Assault on a Child
- Sexual Exploitation of Children
- Stalking
- Tampering with a Witness or Victim
- Unlawful Sexual Contact
- Vehicular Assault
- Vehicular Homicide
- Violation of a Protection Order - if the underlying offense is sexual assault or stalking
- Any attempt, conspiracy, solicitation, or accessory to the above-listed crimes.
We will go over your application to make sure it has all the information needed. We will get a copy of the police report for the crime that happened to you. We may email or call you if they need more information from you or the people who provided you services. Please make sure that you give us a working email or phone number so we can reach you. Please note: It may take up to 60 working days from the receipt of a completed application and all necessary supporting documentation for an initial eligibility decision to be made.
The CVC Board holds a meeting to review applications monthly. We will notify you of their decision after the meeting. We will send a letter or email within 10 days after the meeting. The letter or email will have information about what the CVC Board decided and information about the next steps to take.
The CVC program is the payor of last resort by state and federal law. You may have to send your bills to your car, private or public health insurance, workers compensation, renter or homeowner insurance before CVC can pay the bill. CVC can help you with things not covered by other sources. This may be for out-of-pocket expenses or insurance deductibles.
If there is a criminal case that goes to court, the Judge will be asked to order the person who did the crime to pay back the CVC program for what was paid for you. This is known as restitution.
As a crime victim who has applied for Crime Victim Compensation assistance with crime-related medical bills, you may be protected from medical collections for a period of time. You must apply to CVC within 180 days of the crime-related medical services being provided and provide written notice to each medical service provider or billing agent that a CVC claim has been submitted. Additional information must also be provided in the written notice. Contact us for more information.
CVC program staff are available to answer your questions and assist you with completing the application. Assistance can be provided over the phone, through email, or in person. Making an appointment for in-person assistance is encouraged.
- Phone: 970-244-1730
- Email: victims.comp@mesacounty.us
- In Person: 125 N. Spruce St., Suite 201, Grand Junction, CO 81501
Documents & Forms
Applications
CVC Claim Application and Instructions - English
Mental Health Provider Application
Treatment Plans/Forms
Mental Health Initial Treatment Plan
Mental Health Therapy Extension Request Form
Miscellaneous
Mental Health Provider Handbook
Participating Mental Health Provider List (Mesa County Area)
CVC Board Meetings
- The CVC Board meets the second Friday of each month at 9:30 am at 125 N. Spruce Street, Suite 201.
- The public is welcome to observe the meetings of the CVC Board. All CVC Board meetings, except for executive sessions, will be open to the public. Members of the public attending CVC Board meetings will be recorded in the meeting minutes.
- CVC Board meetings are not open for public comment or discussion. Persons may contact the CVC Administrator, Jennifer Ballagh, by email at jennifer.ballagh@mesacounty.us to have an item placed on the CVC Board's agenda for review. Requests received less than seven working days before a scheduled meeting will be deferred until the next scheduled meeting.
- Persons in attendance at a CVC Board meeting demonstrating disruptive behavior or behavior that impedes the CVC Board's ability to function will be asked to leave the meeting.
- The CVC Board shall review and discuss all claims, claim materials, claimant requests, medical reports, treatment plans, crime-related debts, or appeals in Executive Session as allowed by C.R.S. §24-6-402(4)(c), C.R.S. §24-6-402(34)(g), C.R.S. §24-72-202(4)(b)(4), and C.R.S. §24-7-204(1)(a), when non-CVC staff or CVC Board members are in attendance in order to preserve and respect the confidentiality of CVC claims and victim information as required by C.R.S. §24-4.1-107.5(2).
- Administrative matters and all funding decisions will be made outside of Executive Session.
Public Notices & Agendas
View the public notice of meetings and agendas for the CVC Board by clicking the buttons below.
Notices of CVC Board meetings are posted at least 24 hours prior to the meeting on this website and on the window of the lobby of the District Attorney's Office at 125 N. Spruce St., Grand Junction, CO 81502.
Meeting Minutes
Requests for copies of CVC Board meeting minutes must be made in accordance with the Mesa County Policy for Requests for "Public Records" pursuant to the Colorado Open Records Act (CORA). A written request may be submitted on the Mesa County Administration Open Records Request page. Clicking the blue button below will take you to that page.
CVC Board Information & Vacancies
The CVC Board is made up of three community members from the 21st Judicial District (Mesa County). Members of the CVC Board are appointed by the District Attorney. Although appointed by the District Attorney the CVC Board is an independent Board. The District Attorney does not and cannot influence any decision the CVC Board makes. CVC Board members are unpaid volunteers but they may be reimbursed for actual, reasonable, and necessary expenses directly related to the activities of the CVC Board.
The CVC Board meets once a month to review applicant requests and make approval decisions. Board members also meet twice annually to conduct an in-depth review of administrative, programmatic, and financial matters.
Board Information
| Kendra Dixon | Term Expires: 08/31/2025 |
| David Combs | Term Expires: 08/31/2026 |
| Ashleah Yates | Term Expires: 09/30/2027 |
There are no vacancies at this time.