Victim Services Comfort and Help The City victim services advocates comfort individuals and families through difficult times and situations, help guide them through the criminal justice system and inform victims of their rights under the law. Assist in guiding the victim to obtain financial compensation and referral services to eligible persons. How to Apply Contact the Coconut Creek Victim Advocate Unit at 973-6700 for further information. Victim Advocate Judie Banks jbanks@creekgov.net Phone: (954) 973-6700   What Does the Victim Advocate Do? • Information and referral • Assistance with completing restitution requests • Crisis intervention counseling • Body identification • Court orientation and other necessary resources • Assistance with victim impact statements • Victim contact either via phone or mail • Death notification • Available 24 hours a day, seven days a week • Attend Attorney General Training sessions for Victim • Transportation of victims to essential services • Completion of Crimes Compensation forms • Assistance with property return     What Benefits Are Available? • Loss of support for persons who were principally dependent on a deceased victim who earned income at the time of the crime • Disability allowance when a victim becomes disabled as a result of a crime • Payment of funeral/burial expenses for a deceased victim • Reimbursement for medical or dental treatment expenses (including ambulance charges, hospital expenses, and physician/dentist costs) • Reimbursement for prescriptions, eyeglasses, dentures or prosthetic devices needed as a result of a crime • Reimbursement for mental health counseling • Reimbursement for property loss for elderly or disabled adults only • Lost wages for a victim who missed work as a result of a crime Who Qualifies? * • Victims who received personal, physical, psychiatric or psychological injury as the result of a crime. Some exceptions may apply for victims who did not sustain a personal or physical injury • Survivors of a victim who was killed as a result of a felony or misdemeanor crime punishable under federal or state law, including DUI (motor vehicle, boating or aircraft) and hit and run if the crime was reported to law enforcement within 72 hours • If the application was filed within one year after the crime • If the victim has fully cooperated with law enforcement and the state attorneys office • If the victim was not engaged in an unlawful activity • If the victim did not contribute to his/her own injuries • If the victim or claimant must not have been in custody or confined at the time of the crime • If the victim or claimant must not have been adjudicated as a habitual felony offender, habitual violent offender, violent career criminal, or adjudicated guilty of a forcible felony offense * A criminal background check is conducted on all victims and/or claimants who submit a claim. Who Can Apply? • Any victim or intervener • The surviving spouse or parent of a deceased victim • The surviving adult child or sibling of a deceased victim • The guardian applying for a minor child victim, incompetent person, surviving minor sibling of a deceased victim • Minors less than 16 years old that were present at the scene of a violent crime, who saw or heard the crime and suffered psychological or psychiatric injury as a direct result • A relative applying on behalf of a deceased victim when there is no other source for payment of funeral expenses • Any other person who is dependent for his/her principal support upon a deceased victim or intervener What's Needed to Apply? • A completed and signed victim compensation claim form • The law enforcement report concerning the crime • Proof crime related expenses (for example, itemized bills) • Proof of third-party payments such as insurance, restitution, judgments or settlements • Proof of the time lost from work due to the crime and a doctor's statement