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Florida Victim Compensation for Crime Scene Cleanup

Reviewed October 2026. General information, not legal advice. Eligibility is decided by the administering agency.

Florida runs a victim compensation program that can reimburse crime scene cleanup costs. Most families never find out it exists, which is the reason this page is here.

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The program is administered by the Florida Attorney General's Bureau of Victim Compensation. It is funded largely by offender fines and fees rather than by taxpayers, and it is designed to cover costs that victims and their families should not have to carry. Crime scene cleanup is one of the eligible categories.

Person at a desk reviewing documents in calm daylight, seen over the shoulder
Applications require the law enforcement case number, so collect it before officers leave the property.

Get the case number first

Before the responding officers leave, write down the agency name, the case or report number and the name of the lead investigator. Every one of those appears on the application, and retrieving them weeks later is considerably harder than asking at the time.

Who Is Generally Eligible

  • Victims of a violent crime that occurred in Florida
  • Surviving family members of someone killed as a result of a crime
  • People who paid eligible expenses on behalf of a victim
  • Cases where the crime was reported to law enforcement within the required period
  • Cases where the victim or claimant cooperated with the investigation

Eligibility depends on the circumstances of the specific case and is decided by the Bureau, not by us and not by the cleanup crew.

Eligibility Checker

Four questions covering the things that stop most applications before they start. The Bureau makes the actual decision, so treat this as orientation.

Did a violent crime occur?
Was it reported to law enforcement?
What is your relationship to the victim?
When did the crime occur?

How to Apply

Step 1

Report the crime and keep the number

The crime must have been reported to law enforcement. Keep the agency name, the case number and the lead investigator's name.

Step 2

Get the application

Applications are available from the Florida Attorney General's Bureau of Victim Compensation. Victim advocates at the responding agency and at the State Attorney's office can also help you obtain and complete one.

Step 3

Gather documentation

You need the itemized cleanup invoice, proof of payment if you have already paid, the police report number, and any insurance determination including a denial letter.

Step 4

File before the deadline

Florida sets filing deadlines running from the date of the crime. File as early as you can, since processing takes time and incomplete applications take longer.

Where to Get Help With the Application

You do not have to do this alone, and the people who help are free.

  • Victim advocates at the responding agency. St. Petersburg Police, Pinellas County Sheriff's Office and Clearwater Police all have victim advocate units.
  • The State Attorney's Office for the Sixth Judicial Circuit, which covers Pinellas and Pasco counties, has a victim assistance program.
  • The Bureau of Victim Compensation itself, through the Florida Attorney General's office, answers questions about eligibility and the forms.

Insurance and compensation are not either or

Filing an insurance claim does not disqualify you. Where both apply, insurance generally pays first and the program may cover remaining eligible costs including your deductible. Pursue both.

Common questions

Do I need insurance to qualify?

No. The program exists partly for people who have no insurance. Where insurance does exist it generally pays first, and the program may cover what remains.

How long do I have to apply?

Florida sets filing deadlines running from the date of the crime, with limited exceptions. Apply as early as you can and do not let the paperwork wait while you deal with everything else.

Does the offender have to be caught?

No. The requirement is that the crime was reported to law enforcement and that you cooperated with the investigation. A conviction is not required.

What if the victim was a family member who died?

Surviving family members and those who paid the costs may be eligible to claim. The program covers more than cleanup, including funeral costs and counseling for survivors.

Can the cleanup crew help me file?

Many crews that work crime scenes in Florida regularly are familiar with the program and will provide the itemized documentation it requires. Ask them when they assess the property.

Ask for documentation that supports a claim

Tell the dispatcher you may file a state compensation claim, so the crew prepares an itemized invoice in the format the program expects.

Call (727) 591-9468