Does Your State Cover Biohazard Cleanup Costs?
Every US state has a crime victim compensation fund — and most will reimburse biohazard cleanup costs with no arrest or conviction required. Most families never apply because they don't know it exists.
23states with confirmed cleanup coverage
51states with likely coverage
$0cost to apply
No arrest required. You only need to report the crime to law enforcement and cooperate with the investigation.
Works alongside insurance. Programs cover costs insurance doesn't pay — apply for anything left over after your claim.
Free to apply. There is no fee to submit a claim. If you need help with the application, victim advocates at your local prosecutor's office can assist at no cost.
Deadlines matter. Application windows range from 1–7 years from the crime date. Apply as early as possible — don't wait for the criminal case to resolve.
Don't know your cleanup cost yet? Use our free cost calculator to estimate the total, what insurance covers, and your out-of-pocket — then apply for victim compensation to cover the rest.
Find Your State
Click any state for program details, application instructions, and the direct link to apply. All information should be verified directly with your state program before applying.
| State | Program | Cleanup Covered | Max Award | Apply By | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Alabama Crime Victims Compensation Commission | ~ Sometimes | Up to $20,000 | Within 1 year of the crime | Details → |
| Alaska | Alaska Violent Crimes Compensation Board | ✓ Yes | Up to $40,000 | Within 2 years of the crime | Details → |
| Arizona | Arizona Crime Victim Compensation Program | ~ Sometimes | Up to $25,000 | Within 2 years of the crime | Details → |
| Arkansas | Arkansas Crime Victims Reparations Program | ~ Sometimes | Up to $25,000 | Within 1 year of the crime | Details → |
| California | California Victim Compensation Board (CalVCB) | ✓ Yes | Up to $70,000 | Within 3 years of the crime | Details → |
| Colorado | Colorado Crime Victim Compensation Program | ~ Sometimes | Up to $30,000 | Within 1 year of the crime | Details → |
| Connecticut | Connecticut Victim Compensation Program | ✓ Yes | Up to $40,000 | Within 2 years of the crime | Details → |
| Delaware | Delaware Violent Crimes Compensation Program | ~ Sometimes | Up to $25,000 | Within 1 year of the crime | Details → |
| District of Columbia | DC Crime Victims Compensation Program | ✓ Yes | Up to $25,000 | Within 1 year of the crime | Details → |
| Florida | Florida Crime Victims Compensation Program | ✓ Yes | Up to $25,000 | Within 3 years of the crime | Details → |
| Georgia | Georgia Crime Victims Compensation Program | ~ Sometimes | Up to $25,000 | Within 3 years of the crime | Details → |
| Hawaii | Hawaii Crime Victim Compensation Commission | ~ Sometimes | Up to $10,000 | Within 18 months of the crime | Details → |
| Idaho | Idaho Crime Victim Compensation Program | ~ Sometimes | Up to $25,000 | Within 1 year of the crime | Details → |
| Illinois | Illinois Crime Victims Compensation Program | ✓ Yes | Up to $27,000 | Within 2 years of the crime | Details → |
| Indiana | Indiana Violent Crime Victim Compensation Fund | ~ Sometimes | Up to $15,000 | Within 2 years of the crime | Details → |
| Iowa | Iowa Crime Victim Compensation Program | ~ Sometimes | Up to $25,000 | Within 2 years of the crime | Details → |
| Kansas | Kansas Crime Victims Compensation Program | ~ Sometimes | Up to $25,000 | Within 2 years of the crime | Details → |
| Kentucky | Kentucky Crime Victims Compensation Board | ✓ Yes | Up to $25,000 | Within 5 years of the crime | Details → |
| Louisiana | Louisiana Crime Victims Reparations Program | ~ Sometimes | Up to $25,000 | Within 1 year of the crime | Details → |
| Maine | Maine Victims' Compensation Program | ~ Sometimes | Up to $15,000 | Within 3 years of the crime | Details → |
| Maryland | Maryland Criminal Injuries Compensation Board | ✓ Yes | Up to $45,000 | Within 3 years of the crime | Details → |
| Massachusetts | Massachusetts Victim Compensation & Assistance Division | ✓ Yes | Up to $25,000 | Within 3 years of the crime | Details → |
| Michigan | Michigan Crime Victim Services Commission | ~ Sometimes | Up to $25,000 | Within 2 years of the crime | Details → |
| Minnesota | Minnesota Crime Victims Reparations Board | ✓ Yes | Up to $50,000 | Within 3 years of the crime | Details → |
| Mississippi | Mississippi Crime Victims Compensation Program | ~ Sometimes | Up to $20,000 | Within 3 years of the crime | Details → |
| Missouri | Missouri Crime Victims Compensation Program | ✓ Yes | Up to $25,000 | Within 2 years of the crime | Details → |
| Montana | Montana Crime Victims Compensation Program | ~ Sometimes | Up to $25,000 | Within 1 year of the crime | Details → |
| Nebraska | Nebraska Crime Victim's Reparations | ~ Sometimes | Up to $25,000 | Within 2 years of the crime | Details → |
| Nevada | Nevada Victims of Crime Program | ✓ Yes | Up to $35,000 | Within 2 years of the crime | Details → |
| New Hampshire | New Hampshire Victim Compensation Fund | ~ Sometimes | Up to $30,000 | Within 2 years of the crime | Details → |
| New Jersey | New Jersey Victims of Crime Compensation Office | ✓ Yes | Up to $25,000 | Within 3 years of the crime | Details → |
| New Mexico | New Mexico Crime Victims Reparations Commission | ~ Sometimes | Up to $20,000 | Within 2 years of the crime | Details → |
| New York | New York State Office of Victim Services | ✓ Yes | Up to $30,000 | Within 7 years of the crime | Details → |
| North Carolina | North Carolina Crime Victims Compensation Program | ~ Sometimes | Up to $30,000 | Within 2 years of the crime | Details → |
| North Dakota | North Dakota Crime Victims Compensation Program | ~ Sometimes | Up to $25,000 | Within 1 year of the crime | Details → |
| Ohio | Ohio Victims of Crime Compensation Program | ✓ Yes | Up to $50,000 | Within 2 years of the crime | Details → |
| Oklahoma | Oklahoma Crime Victims Compensation Program | ~ Sometimes | Up to $20,000 | Within 1 year of the crime | Details → |
| Oregon | Oregon Crime Victims' Assistance Program | ✓ Yes | Up to $47,000 | Within 6 years of the crime | Details → |
| Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania Victim Compensation Assistance Program (VCAP) | ✓ Yes | Up to $35,000 | Within 2 years of the crime | Details → |
| Rhode Island | Rhode Island Office of Victim Assistance | ~ Sometimes | Up to $25,000 | Within 3 years of the crime | Details → |
| South Carolina | South Carolina Crime Victim Assistance Program | ~ Sometimes | Up to $15,000 | Within 2 years of the crime | Details → |
| South Dakota | South Dakota Crime Victim Compensation Program | ~ Sometimes | Up to $15,000 | Within 1 year of the crime | Details → |
| Tennessee | Tennessee Criminal Injuries Compensation Program | ✓ Yes | Up to $30,000 | Within 1 year of the crime | Details → |
| Texas | Texas Crime Victims Compensation Program | ✓ Yes | Up to $50,000 | Within 3 years of the crime | Details → |
| Utah | Utah Office for Victims of Crime | ~ Sometimes | Up to $25,000 | Within 2 years of the crime | Details → |
| Vermont | Vermont Victim Compensation Program | ~ Sometimes | Up to $10,000 | Within 2 years of the crime | Details → |
| Virginia | Virginia Victims Fund | ✓ Yes | Up to $25,000 | Within 2 years of the crime | Details → |
| Washington | Washington State Crime Victims Compensation Program | ✓ Yes | Up to $50,000 | Within 2 years of the crime | Details → |
| West Virginia | West Virginia Crime Victims Compensation Fund | ✓ Yes | Up to $35,000 | Within 2 years of the crime | Details → |
| Wisconsin | Wisconsin Crime Victim Compensation Program | ✓ Yes | Up to $40,000 | Within 2 years of the crime | Details → |
| Wyoming | Wyoming Crime Victims Compensation Program | ~ Sometimes | Up to $15,000 | Within 1 year of the crime | Details → |
Coverage limits, phone numbers, and program details change periodically. Always verify directly with your state program before applying.
Common Questions
Does crime victim compensation cover biohazard cleanup costs?
Yes, in most states. Crime victim compensation programs funded by VOCA (Victims of Crime Act) typically cover crime scene cleanup, biohazard remediation, and decontamination as out-of-pocket expenses resulting from a qualifying crime. Coverage limits and specific eligibility vary by state.
Do they require an arrest or conviction before I can apply?
No. The vast majority of state victim compensation programs do not require an arrest, conviction, or even an identified suspect. You generally only need to report the crime to law enforcement and cooperate with the investigation.
Can I apply if insurance already paid part of the cleanup cost?
Yes, but most programs act as the payer of last resort — meaning they cover costs not paid by insurance, workers' compensation, or other sources. You should still apply for any uncompensated amounts.
Who can apply — just the direct victim, or also family members and property owners?
Most programs allow direct victims, immediate family members of homicide victims, and in many states, property owners or other persons who paid cleanup costs on behalf of a victim. Eligibility varies by state.
How long do I have to apply?
Application deadlines range from 1 year (several states) to 7 years (New York). Most states allow 2–3 years from the date of the crime. Apply as soon as possible — the deadline is measured from the crime date, not when you learned about the program.
Ready to Take the Next Step?
Estimate your cleanup cost, find out how much insurance covers, and get a downloadable worksheet for your compensation application — all free.