Survivors may be eligible for reparations under the Louisiana Crime Victims Reparations Act.1 Among other things, victim compensation can be awarded for medical bills, dental expenses, lost wages, relocation expenses, and mental health counseling necessitated by the crime. The application for compensation must be filed within one year of the crime. Lawyers can help determine a client’s eligibility for victim compensation, assist with necessary paperwork, and advocate for clients as they navigate the process of requesting compensation. A state website explains the process in Louisiana.2 Claims must be filed through the victim’s local sheriff’s office. The state maintains a list of contact information for the victim compensation claims person in each Sherriff’s office.3
- 1La. R.S. 46:1801.
- 2Crime Victims Reparations, La. Comm’n on Law Enforcement.
- 3Id.