Atlanta, GA — The Georgia Criminal Justice Coordinating Council (CJCC) has launched an online application portal, Victims Comp Portal, for victims, advocates, and providers to apply for the Georgia Crime Victims Compensation Program. The Victims Comp Portal will allow victims and advocates to submit claims, check on their status, and see if compensation has been awarded all online.

The Georgia Crime Victims Compensation Program was created to help victims of violent crimes cover expenses for medical, mental health counseling, funeral and crime scene sanitization expenses, as well as loss of income or support. The program now also includes accessing unclaimed court ordered restitution from an offender, supporting the placement of a memorial for a loved one killed by an impaired driver, and more.

In state fiscal year 2016, the Crime Victims Compensation Program received over 14,000 applications and awarded close to $18M to Georgia victims. The goal of the Victims Comp Portal is to increase efficiency in the application process with the hope of reaching additional victims.

The Victims Comp Portal enables providers and advocates (depending on role access) to submit online applications for forensic interviews, forensic examinations, and victims compensation, obtain status of bills and review payment details, and actively monitor claims. Users will be able to collect payments faster, dedicate less time to paperwork, obtain real time status updates on applications, learn of any concerns with their application, receive fewer verification calls, and spend less on postage and printing costs.

"These efficiencies translate to improved service for crime victims in our state,” said Governor Nathan Deal. “The new Victims Comp Portal will better serve Georgia victims and those who advocate on their behalf.”

CJCC Executive Director Jay Neal added, “We wanted to replace the traditional time-consuming method of submitting paper applications with a technology solution that takes away the need to rekey information multiple times. Additionally, it is our hope that the newly renovated CrimeVictimsComp.ga.gov website will become a one-stop-shop for victims and providers to check to see if they are owed unclaimed restitution, determine their eligibility for compensation, and apply online.”

The Portal, located at VictimsCompPortal.cjcc.ga.gov, is now available to all victims, advocates, and providers. Potential users may visit CrimeVictimsComp.ga.gov for more information on how to register and for more information about Georgia Crime Victims Compensation Programs.

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About Criminal Justice Coordinating Council (CJCC)

Created by the Georgia General Assembly in 1981 as an Executive Branch agency, the Criminal Justice Coordinating Council (CJCC) represents the culmination of many efforts to establish a statewide body that would build consensus and unity among the State's diverse and interdependent, criminal justice system components. The Crime Victims Compensation Division (VCD) of CJCC operates the Crime Victims Compensation Program, as established by the Georgia General Assembly. For more information please visit the Compensation Program’s website at http://crimevictimscomp.ga.gov/

Samantha Wolf – Communications and External Affairs Director | Atlanta | 404/657-1958