By Christiana Paradis, Director of Title IX Compliance
In addition to numerous federal laws, there are also several state-specific laws and programs that work to provide protections and support to students who have experienced sex and gender-based discrimination and harassment. In Pennsylvania, one of those programs is the Victims Compensation Assistance Program (VCAP).
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania was the 10th state in the nation to establish a compensation program to help assist victims and their families who had experienced out-of-pocket expenses as the result of a crime (PCAR, nd). VCAP was established in July 1976 by Act 129. On average each year, VCAP receives over 12,000 claims and pays approximately $13 million to crime victims (PCCD, 2023).
A variety of expenses may be covered by VCAP including medical expenses, counseling, loss of job earnings, funeral costs, travel costs, childcare and relocation assistance.
To receive compensation there are several criteria that must be met: a) the crime must have occurred in PA, b) the crime must be reported to proper authorities or a protection order must be filed, c) the victim must file the claim within five years of the crime, the victim must cooperate with the police, courts, and the Victims Compensation Assistance Program, and d) the victim must have a minimum loss of $50 because of the crime (PCCD, 2023).
Additionally, VCAP covers the cost of forensic rape exams in PA, meaning no student has to pay any out–of–pocket expenses to have a forensic rape exam completed. Survivors of crime can file claims directly online or also through the assistance of a victim advocate. This is just one of the many reasons the Title IX Office encourages students who have experienced harm to work with a campus victim advocate through Transitions of PA.
To learn more about VCAP and how to file a claim click here. (website: https://www.pccd.pa.gov/Victim-Services/Pages/Victims-Compensation-Assistance-Program-(VCAP).aspx)
