More Than A Number: Victim's resource guide
More Than A Number's goal is to give a face to the victim and a voice to the family.
KING 5
Welcome to the More Than A Number victim's guide.
First, from everyone here at KING 5, we are sorry for your loss.
We understand that this is a difficult time for you. We hope to make the process less painful with our initiative, More Than A Number.
This page is designed to help you know what resources and rights are available to you.
The initiative's goal is to give the victim a face and a voice to the family, and give loved ones more control over the process. In addition to the resource guide, our survey page gives families and friends the opportunity to remember their loved ones and share their stories with the community.
THE FIRST STEPS
Notify friends and family: This one may seem obvious but many times after receiving traumatic news we can forget to reach out to other loved ones. One suggestion is to designate point people to get the message out faster. By letting multiple people the messenger it allows you to get that information out faster while also allowing those closest to the victim to not have to call each person.
Qualified clean-up crew and homeowner’s insurance: If your family member was killed in their home or their car, there are companies that can clean the scene up so you don’t have to suffer that trauma. One thing people may not realize is that homeowner’s insurance can sometimes cover the clean-up cost for blood, stains and odors, according to Aftermath, a clean-up crew that works with victim’s families.
Notify the employer of the victim: Ask about benefits, any pay that may be due including vacation and sick time. They can also check on disability and any life insurance policies.
Additional documents you may need:
- Death certificate (get multiple copies)
- Life insurance policy information
- Social Security information
- Homeowners Insurance
- Victim’s will
Victims of a violent crime in Washington state may be eligible for assistance. Overcoming physical injures and emotional trauma from a violent crime can take time and is harder to do when faced with financial worries as well.
The Crime Victims Compensation Program helps victims with costs related to crime injuries.
Who can get help?
- Victims injured in a violent crime in Washington state
- Survivors of a homicide victim
- Washington residents injured by an act of terrorism in a foreign country
Am I eligible?
Benefits cannot be paid to someone:
- Injured while participating in a felony
- Injured while confined in jail, prison or institutionalized
- Who incited, provoked or consented to the crime
- Who is unwilling to provide reasonable cooperation to law enforcement
What benefits are available?
- Payment of medical, dental and mental health counseling bills
- Partial payment of lost wages
- Partial payment of funeral costs
- Modification to homes and vehicles to accommodate permanent injuries
- Limited pension payment if the crime prevents you from returning to work permanently
- Limited pension payment to the spouse or child of a deceased victim
- Counseling for family members of sexual assault victims and homicide victims
All benefits listed have maximum dollar limits set by law. Property losses are not covered.
What are the requirements of the program?
- Notify law enforcement of the crime within one year or within one year of when a report could have reasonably been made
- CVCP must receive the application:
- Within two years of reporting the crime to law enforcement
- Within two years of your eighteenth birthday if you were a minor at the time of the crime
- Within five years from reporting the crime to law enforcement with good cause
- You need to use benefits available from all other public and private insurance first
- You need to reimburse CVCP if you receive an insurance settlement or proceeds from a lawsuit based on the crime
How do I apply?
Contact CVCP directly at (800) 762-3716 for an application, visit the Washington State Department of Labor and Industries website or contact the U.S. Attorney's Office Victim-Witness Program for assistance.
VICTIM'S RIGHTS
Here is a look at some of the rights that victims have according to Washinton's Victims Bill of Rights:
- To receive protection from harm and threats of harm arising out of cooperation with law enforcement and prosecution efforts, and to be provided with information as to the level of protection available
- To be provided a secure waiting area during court proceedings that does not require them to be in close proximity to defendants and families or friends of defendants
- To have any stolen or other personal property expeditiously returned by law enforcement agencies or the superior court when no longer needed as evidence. When feasible, all such property, except weapons, currency, contraband, property subject to evidentiary analysis, and property of which ownership is disputed, shall be photographed and returned to the owner within ten days of being taken
- To be provided with appropriate employer intercession services to ensure that employers of victims, survivors of victims, and witnesses of crime will cooperate with the criminal justice process in order to minimize an employee's loss of pay and other benefits resulting from court appearance
- Access to immediate medical assistance and not to be detained for an unreasonable length of time by a law enforcement agency before having such assistance administered
- To have a crime victim advocate from a crime victim/witness program, or any other support person of the victim's choosing, present at any prosecutorial or defense interviews with the victim, and at any judicial proceedings related to criminal acts committed against the victim
- To be physically present in court during trial, or if subpoenaed to testify, to be scheduled as early as practical in the proceedings in order to be physically present during trial after testifying and not to be excluded solely because they have testified
- To submit a victim impact statement or report to the court
A full list of rights can be found here: kingcounty.gov/.
RESOURCES
Office of crime victims advocacy (OCVA) 1-800-822-1067
- OCVA serves as a voice within government for the needs of crime victims in Washington
- Grantees, agencies & organizations
- Help finding support or services
- Filing a discrimination complaint against federal grant programs
- Local domestic violence resources
- Sexual assault resource
- Elder abuse resources
- Mental illness and substance abuse resources
- Gaining financial independence
- Victim/witness assistance service
- Case status information
- Victim impact statements
- Restitution
- Hiv antibody test notification
- Community resources
- Vine program
- Victim witness notification
- Property release
- VST provides short-term advocacy and resources to victims of violent crimes. The primary goal is to listen to survivors, help them identify what next step they want to take, address immediate safety concerns, and offer connections to resources in the community
SHARE YOUR STORY
if you've lost someone close to you, we invite you to share their story with us by completing the form below.
By sharing photos, memories and other details about your loved one, you'll help us celebrate their life and showcase their legacy.
Submissions may be used in a KING 5 story on air or online.