Compensation Program Updates for Victim Advocates

ovs compass for advocates

• Victim service providers can verify a crime occurred as part of a victim compensation application. Crime verification from a victim service provider can be used instead of a criminal justice agency report for most crimes.
  • Providers who fill out claims on behalf of victims/survivors online will be able to verify the crime happened as part of the online application - no additional paper form necessary. For providers without access to the system, including medical or mental health providers, a paper form will be available for download on the OVS website.
  • You can download a sample copy that form here: https://ovs.ny.gov/crime-verification-form.
  • Please note that OVS cannot accept crime verification forms for claims filed before December 31, 2025.
• OVS will investigate and determine claim eligibility regardless of whether the alleged criminal has been arrested, charged, apprehended or prosecuted for or convicted of any crime based on the same incident. Arrested and charged are terms that have been added to OVS state law.
• OVS will have more discretion when evaluating the amount of time between the crime and when victims or survivors reported the crime to law enforcement or a support agency for survivors of crime when determining eligibility.
• Victims and survivors will have three years to file a claim with OVS following the crime, discovery of the crime, after a court finds a lawsuit frivolous, or the victim died because of the crime.
• OVS will have the ability to evaluate a claim for compensation in the light most favorable to a victim when two or more conflicting reports from a support agency for survivors of crime are submitted as part of the same claim. 

• The cap on funeral and burial expenses has increased to $12,000. OVS can also now pay up to $6,000 for emergency awards for funeral and burial expenses.
• OVS will no longer consider conduct contributing for claims where the victim died because of a crime.
• Anyone who pays for crime-scene clean-up after a crime can now file a claim for these expenses.
• Victims of larceny who have cash losses and meet other eligibility criteria are now eligible for up to $2,500 reimbursement for those cash losses under one victim compensation claim. 

Access OVS Compass at the following links: 

• OVS Compass for Victims and Survivors
• OVS Compass for Victim Advocates

Delegated Administrators 

A Delegated Administrator is someone who will manage the advocate business accounts for your victim service provider organization. If advocates from your organization will submit claims on behalf of victims and survivors, your organization will need to pick a delegated administrator to manage your OVS Compass advocate accounts. 

For most organizations, there will only be one delegated administrator, and many programs have already picked that person. If you are unsure if your organization has a delegated administrator, please speak with your organization's leadership, your OVS Contract Manager, or send an email to [email protected]. 

As of December 31, 2025, all NYS OVS compensation online claims will be submitted using OVS Compass. You can follow these links to get started: 

• OVS Compass for Victims and Survivors
• OVS Compass for Victim Advocates

The Victim Service Portal (VSP) for submitting claims was shut off for new claims submission on December 30, 2025 at close of business.

• Any in-progress, unsubmitted claims in the VSP were purged from the system. Please re-enter claim information into OVS Compass.
• Users will not be able to add documents to claims submitted via the VSP. Please send documents for claims submitted via the VSP to [email protected]. 

Recorded Trainings

All recorded trainings are made available on the OVS YouTube Channel. Click to learn more about how OVS is making it easier for victims and survivors to get reimbursed for crime-related expenses. 

Fair Access to Victim Compensation and OVS Compass Training

This informational webinar is for all victim services professionals and new viewers will review the upcoming policy changes, the crime verification form, and how to use the new victim services online portal, OVS Compass.

Webinar Recording

Delegated Administrator Training 

This informational webinar is for victim service providers who will be the OVS Compass Delegated Administrator (the person who will add, delete, and modify OVS Compass accounts on behalf of their organization). New viewers will learn more about this important role for service providers who submit claims on behalf of victims and survivors.

Webinar Recording

Crime Verification Form Training 

This informational webinar is for victim service providers who will be filling out OVS Crime Verification Forms on behalf of victims/survivors. New viewers will learn more about the Crime Verification Form and the level of detail expected in the narrative sections of these reports.

Webinar Recording

Crime Verification Form Training for Medical and Mental Health Professionals

This training is intended for medical and mental health professionals who may be asked to fill out Crime Verification Forms on behalf of patients who are victims/survivors of crime. New viewers will learn more about NYS OVS, the agency's Crime Verification Form, and the level of detail expected in the narrative sections of these reports.

Webinar Recording