Help for Victims

We are sorry to learn you have been a victim of a crime. As a victim, you may have experienced injury, loss, confusion, and a disruption of your life. Feelings of shock, disbelief, fear, vulnerability, anger and frustration may result. Having information and an understanding about the system may be helpful to you at this time.

Once a crime is reported, a person who is a victim of crime becomes part of the criminal justice system. It can be a confusing and sometimes frustrating experience. There are victim/witness advocates throughout Colorado to provide support and assistance to victims during the process. This section has been prepared to assist you in understanding your rights and to answer commonly asked questions. Because victims are such an important part of the criminal justice process, in November, 1992, the voters of Colorado passed a resolution to include Victim Rights as part of the State’s constitution.

The law states:

Any person who is a victim of a criminal act or such person’s designee, legal guardian, or surviving immediate family members if such person is deceased, shall have the right to be heard when relevant, informed and present at all critical stages of the criminal justice process.
(Article II, Section 16A Colorado State Constitution and C.R.S. § 24-4.1-301 et. seq.)     For more information on the Colorado Victim Rights Act. 

Colorado Crime Victim Compensation Portal (New!)

Crimes that Fall Under the CO Victim Rights Act

Common VRA Complaint Process Questions

Critical Stages, Agency Responsibilities and Victim's Responsibilities (VRA Brochure)

What to do if you feel your rights have not been provided:

Colorado state law provides that affected persons may enforce compliance with the provisions of the Constitutional Amendment by notifying the Governor’s Victims’ Compensation and Assistance Coordinating Committee (Coordinating Committee).

You must first attempt to seek compliance at the local level. This may include but is not limited to:

• Contacting the person you feel has not provided you with your rights and explain specifically what has not been done;
• Seeking assistance from your victim advocates, or other supportive persons such as a counselor;
• Seeking assistance from the elected official or head of the agency you feel is not providing your rights.

Contacts may be verbal or in writing. Accurate records of your efforts to seek compliance at the local level will be helpful to you and to the Coordinating Committee should a formal request be filed.

If all local efforts to obtain your rights have failed, you may request assistance from the Coordinating Committee by contacting:

Crime Victim Services Advisory Board
Division of Criminal Justice
Office for Victims’ Programs
700 Kipling Street, Suite 1000
Denver, Colorado 80215
(303) 239-4497
(303) 239-5743 FAX
1-888-282-1080 Toll-Free Number (Outside the Denver Metro area only)

Victim Compensation

Victims of crime often need financial assistance as a result of what happened to them. Financial help for costs related to medical expenses, lost employment, mental health treatment, burial expenses, the loss of medically necessary devices such as eyeglasses or hearing aids, the loss of support to dependents, and damage to home security devices such as doors, windows, and locks can be applied for through the Crime Victim Compensation Fund. Money is paid into this fund through fines against persons convicted of crimes. Contact your local District Attorney’s Office for information on how to apply for Victim Compensation. (See forms above)

Statewide Resources

Your local community has resources to provide you with support and assistance. A good place to start is with your victim advocate located at either the police department or sheriff’s office, the district attorney’s office, or a community service provider. Other statewide resources include:

• Asian Pacific Development Center – Services for Asian populations: 303-393-0304 (Denver);   303-365-2959 (Aurora)
• Colorado Anti-Violence Program – 303-839-5204
• Colorado Coalition Against Domestic Violence – CCADV: 303-831-9632
• Colorado Coalition Against Sexual Assault – CCASA: 303-839-9999
• Colorado Organization for Victim Assistance – COVA: 303-861-1160
• Colorado Division of Criminal Justice: 303-239-5719
• Domestic Violence Initiative for Women with Disabilities: 303-859-5510
• Kempe National Center for the Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect: 303-864-5300
• United Way: Call 2-1-1 for resources
• Parents of Murdered Children and other survivors of homicide: 888-818-POMC