Am I Eligible?

DCVC Eligibility Criteria

The eligibility requirements to receive services from DCVC are:

• The crime must occur in South Carolina
• The victim must sustain direct injury – (Physical or Psychological)
• South Carolina law requires DCVC to consider contributory or illegal behavior when making eligibility determinations
• The victim/claimant must cooperate with DCVC and Law Enforcement
• The crime must be reported within 48 hours (May be waived for good cause)
• The claim must be filed within 180 days (May be waived for good cause)
• The claim must be filed within 4 years of the incident. Upon good cause, the time for filing may be extended four years after a diagnosis of injury.

South Carolina Crime Victims’ Constitutional Rights

To preserve and protect victims’ rights to justice and due process regardless of race, sex, age, religion, economic, status, victims of crime have the right to:

• be treated with fairness, respect and dignity;
• be free from intimidation or harm throughout the criminal and juvenile justice process;
• be informed about victims’ rights;
• be reasonably informed about criminal proceedings;
• be informed if the accused is arrested, released, or escapes;
• confer with the prosecution before the case is heard in court;
• be present at criminal proceedings where the accused has the right to be present;
• be heard at proceedings affecting bond, bail, release, pleas or sentencing;
• have reasonable access to documents relating to the crime before trial;
• receive restitution from the adult or juvenile offenders; and
• a reasonable, prompt and final conclusion of the case.

Excerpted from the Constitution of South Carolina, Article I, Section 24
(This is a condensed reference and is not intended to substitute for the law.)

*The penalty for violating the Victims’ Bill of Rights is a writ of mandamus, issued by Supreme Court or circuit court to require compliance. A willful failure to comply with a writ of mandamus is punishable as contempt