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 Constitution states that victims of crime shall have specific rights related to the criminal proceedings for the case for which they have been identified as the victim, including the rights to 

• notification of all public proceedings related to their crime, including post-conviction procedures;
• be heard at pubic proceedings for pretrial release, plea, sentencing, or other adjudicatory proceedings;
• confer with prosecutors concerning case outcomes;
• make victim impact statements; be provided copies of presentencing reports;
• receive notification of release or escape of an offender from custody;
• receive notification of clemency or expungement procedures, prompt return of property no longer needed as evidence;
• timely restitution payments; and
• proceedings free from unreasonable delay and to the prompt final conclusion of the cases and any related to postjudgement proceedings.

Injured crime victims may also 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 or victimization. An Application for Victim Compensation Form  can be obtained online.

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 2019-20, the office received 21,199 claims for financial assistance to victims, with an average processing time from receipt of a claim through initial payment of 23 days. The awards to claimants in Fiscal Year 2019-20 totaled approximately $19 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 2019-2020, Office of Attorney General.
Florida Council on the Social Status of Black Men and Boys Annual Report, 2020.

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