The Division of Victim Services serves as an advocate for crime victims and administers a compensation program to ensure financial assistance for innocent victims of crime. The division is composed of three bureaus.

• Advocacy and Grants Management
• Criminal Justice Programs
• Victim Compensation

The Florida Crime Victim's Bill of Rights states that victims of crime or their lawful representatives, including the next of kin of homicide victims, are entitled to the right to be informed, be present, and be heard when relevant, at all crucial stages of criminal proceedings, to the extent that these rights do not interfere with the constitutional rights of the accused.
Injured crime victims may be eligible for financial assistance for medical care, lost income, mental health services, funeral expenses, and other out-of-pocket expenses directly related to the injury. A brochure describing how to qualify for these services can also be found on the division's website. A claim form can be obtained online or by calling the toll-free line at 1-800-226-6667. There is no application fee. The Bureau of Victim Compensation also maintains a Victim Services Directory of service providers by judicial circuit.

The Crimes Compensation Trust Fund is used to pay for victim compensation claims and to support the operation of the Division of Victim Services. Funding is derived from moneys recovered on behalf of the Office of the Attorney General by subrogation or other action, recovered through court ordered restitution and additional court costs, received from the Federal Government, received from fines, or received from other public or private sources.

The Bureau of Advocacy and Grants Management provides regional victim advocacy and appellate notification to victims of crime, provides crisis response training and coordination, and administers the address confidentiality program and federal Victims of Crime Act assistance grants.

The Bureau of Criminal Justice Programs provides statewide public education and training programs for law enforcement personnel, school resource officers, victim advocates, and other interested persons on crime prevention initiatives, school-based officer programs, victim advocacy, and related criminal justice areas. This is done primarily through the Florida Crime Prevention Training Institute.
The Bureau of Criminal Justice Programs also administers the Council on the Social Status of Black Men and Boys. The mission of the Council is to research and propose measures that improve conditions affecting black men and boys. The council's annual report is available on its website.

The Division of Victim Services provides an annual report of activities on their website as required by s. 960.045(1)(c), Florida Statutes. In Fiscal Year 2018-19, the office received 23,396 claims for financial assistance to victims, with an average processing time from receipt of a claim through initial payment of 21.5 days. The awards to claimants in Fiscal Year 2017-18 totaled approximately $20 million.

Placement Challenges Persist for Child Victims of Commercial Sexual Exploitation; Questions Regarding Effective Interventions and Outcomes Remain, Report 16-04, July 2016

Other Reports
Division of Victim Services and Criminal Justice Programs Annual Report, 2018-2019, Office of Attorney General.
A Guide for Victims, Office of Statewide Prosecution.
2015-2016 Sexual Battery Victims' Access to Services Act Legislative Report, Florida Department of Health, February 2017.
The Auditor General reports on department operations are available on its website.
Websites of Interest
Office of the Attorney General, Addresses and Phone Numbers
U.S. Department of Justice, Office for Victims of Crime (Florida Resources)
The National Center for Victims of Crime
National Association of Crime Victim Compensation Boards
Performance Information

Performance measures and standards for the department may be found in its Long Range Program Plan.

Article I, Section 16, Constitution of the State of Florida, and Ch. 960 and ss. 402.181, 938.03, 938.04, Florida Statutes.

Office of Attorney General, 850-414-3300, 850-414-3990 (Citizens Services), or 1-800-226-6667 (Victim Information and Referral Line)

Website