If you have suffered criminal injuries as a result of a violent intentional crime you may be lawfully entitled to compensation in a number of ways.
The Law
The law specifically dealing with compensation to victims of crime is Subsidiary Legislation 9.12 entitled Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme Regulations. The legal provisions thereof implement the requirements of Council Directive 2004/80/EC relating to compensation to victims of crime.
Eligibility for compensation to victims of crime is statutorily limited to criminal injuries sustained on or after the 1st January, 2006 and discretionally limited by the considerations in Article 11 (a) to (e) of the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme Regulations (click on the arrow alongside the service to access the Application for Criminal Injuries Compensation (S.L.9.12)). Such considerations may justify the Claims Officer, as the final authority to determine all claims for compensation for criminal injuries sustained, in withholding or in reducing an award.
Compensation from the Offender and the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme
There are a number of documents and certificates, which are important to take note of if you think you may qualify for compensation for an injury sustained by you through an act of crime, whether you intend to claim compensation from the offender or under the criminal injuries compensation scheme or both:
- Expenses that you have had to incur as a result of the criminal offence sustained by you
- Any loss of earnings that you may have suffered as a result of the criminal offence you sustained
- Any income that you could have possibly received as a result of the criminal offence you sustained (such as social and/or unemployment benefits, any relative Court Order for compensation)
- Police Report
For further information please visit the FAQ section