South Dakota Crime Victims' Compensation Program
State crime victim compensation program for victims and survivors of victims of violent crimes that involve physical injury, death, or the threat of immediate physical harm. The program can pay for expenses such as medical and counseling costs, lost wages, and funeral expenses that result directly from the crime. The crime must have involved physical contact or the threat of immediate physical harm; the program does not cover property loss. Funded in part through the federal Victims of Crime Act (VOCA).
Who it is for
Victims of violent crime in South Dakota, including victims of state, tribal, or federal crimes, and survivors of homicide victims.
Focus: Domestic and intimate partner violence, Sexual assault, Stalking and harassment
Before you start
How you apply: Apply directly to the program.
How to apply
- Report the crime to law enforcement; the crime should generally be reported within five days of when a report could reasonably have been made.
- Get the Crime Victims' Compensation application online from the Department of Public Safety website or from a State's Attorney's Office.
- Complete the application with supporting documentation of your expenses and losses and submit it to the Office of Victims' Services.
- Call the program at 605-773-6317 or toll free at 1-800-696-9476 with questions about eligibility or the claim process.
Deadline: An application is generally expected within one year of the crime, but it may be accepted later if good cause is shown for the delay (for example, delayed disclosure by a juvenile victim, payments from another source, or lack of information about the program). Confirm current deadlines with the program before relying on this. (Fixed deadline)
Amount: The program can pay a maximum of $15,000 for expenses incurred as a direct result of personal injury to, or death of, a victim.
This is how South Dakota runs the national Crime Victim Compensation (VOCA). See the national program .
Verified as of 2026-06-17. Resources are checked periodically against their official source. Details, amounts, and deadlines change. Confirm the current information on the official page before you rely on it.