Mississippi
Bureau of Victim Assistance
The Bureau of Victim Assistance (BOVA) was established to provide statewide assistance to victims of crime. The journey through the justice system can be traumatic, especially for victims of crime. BOVA offers victims and their loved ones a single point of contact they can turn to before and after their offender is sentenced.
Services provided by our advocates are listed below
- Assistance obtaining victims’ rights
- Assistance with the Crime Victim Compensation Application
- Criminal justice and court related services
- Crisis intervention
- Information about the Mississippi Crime Victims’ Bill of Rights
- General information and referral to appropriate victim service providers
- Notification of Court of Appeals and Supreme Court decisions
- Personal advocacy and support services
- Victim Advocacy
Victim Assistance Program
The State of Mississippi, Department of Public Safety is committed to helping victims of violent crime.
In 2006, the Department of Public Safety (DPS), Mississippi Bureau of Investigation (MBI) implemented the Victim Assistance Program to assist crime victims. Regional Victim Coordinators are available to provide assistance to crime victims, MBI Investigators and Officers of local law enforcement agencies requesting MBI assistance. It is the intent of the program to offer direct services to violent crime victims as their case progresses through the investigative and criminal justice process.
Crime Victim Compensation Division
The Crime Victim Compensation Division provides financial assistance to victims of crime and their family members. The goal of the division is to provide a method of compensating and assisting those persons who are innocent victims of criminal acts and who suffer bodily injury or death. In addition, the Division provides information referrals and advocacy outreach programs. The Division operates with a revenue derived from fees, fines and assessments imposed on criminals, court ordered restitution and federal grants. Applicants to the program can apply for reimbursement for lost wages, mental health and medical treatment and funeral expenses.
