How Texas Crime Victims' Compensation Pays for Cleanup
Last updated: October 14, 2026
The Texas Crime Victims' Compensation Program pays up to $2,250 per victim toward crime scene cleanup for crimes after July 14, 2016, and it can send that money straight to the cleanup company. The program is run by the Texas Attorney General's office, and it pays only after insurance. Here's who qualifies, what it covers, and how an Arlington family files the claim.
The Short Answer
The short answer: report the crime, use insurance first, keep the itemized cleanup invoice, and file with the Attorney General's office within 3 years. The program then reimburses the crime-related cleanup up to its cap.
Who Qualifies
Who qualifies is set by the Attorney General's eligibility rules. The crime has to have been reported to law enforcement within a reasonable time, and the victim or claimant has to cooperate with the investigation and prosecution. Victims hurt by a violent crime through no fault of their own can apply, and so can family or household members and people paying crime-related bills for a victim.
The program covers crime. A suicide or a natural death that went unfound isn't a crime, so cleanup in those cases falls to insurance, the family, or the estate. Our unattended death cleanup page covers those jobs.
What the Program Covers
What the program covers is the cleanup tied directly to the crime or its investigation.
| Covered | Not covered |
|---|---|
| Professional cleaning of stains, odors, broken glass, and debris from the crime or the investigation | Structural repairs and restoration |
| Cleaning supplies, if the family cleans it themselves | Replacing stolen or damaged property |
| Hazardous waste disposal fees, within the cap | Costs above the cap |
| After-hours or on-call charges, within the cap | Repairs that overlap the cleanup, beyond the crime-related part |
For crimes between December 5, 2002, and July 14, 2016, the cleanup limit is $750. When several people paid for the cleanup, the program divides the reimbursement among them.
How to File in Arlington
How to file in Arlington follows five steps, and help is available at each one.
- Call your insurer first. The program describes itself as "a last-resort option," so homeowners' or renters' coverage has to be used before it pays.
- Ask Arlington police for Victim Services. The Arlington Police Department's Victim Services Unit helps with filing Crime Victims' Compensation claims, and its office runs from 6 a.m. to 2 a.m. seven days a week.
- Get the cleanup invoice itemized. The program asks for the cleaning company's bill or receipt, with the service address, the dates of service, and every charge listed.
- Gather the insurance papers. Include the declaration page from the homeowners' or renters' policy, or a statement that there is no insurance.
- File within 3 years of the crime. The Attorney General's Crime Victims' Compensation line is 1-800-983-9933 for questions about the application.
Getting Paid Directly
Getting paid directly is possible when the family hasn't already paid the cleanup company. The provider submits its itemized invoice, its business tax ID, proof that insurance doesn't apply or has been used up, and confirmation that the victim made no payment. Once that file is complete, the Attorney General's office can issue the check to the provider. If the family paid first, the reimbursement goes to the family instead.
We prepare our invoice in that format on every Arlington crime scene job. The crime scene cleanup cost page shows the national price ranges against the $2,250 cap.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the program cover cleanup at a business or in a car?
The Texas rule on crime scene cleanup speaks of the actual, reasonable, and necessary cost of cleaning the crime scene, and the Attorney General's pages don't limit it to a home. What matters is that the person applying qualifies as a crime victim or claimant and that the cleanup is tied to the crime. Call the program's line before work starts if you're unsure about a specific location.
Does the crime have to be reported to the police?
Yes. A claim needs a police report, made promptly enough not to hinder the case, and the victim has to help with the investigation and any prosecution. In Arlington, the officer or detective handling the case can put you in touch with the police department's Victim Services Unit for help with the claim.
What if I cleaned the scene myself?
If you cleaned the scene yourself, the program reimburses only the cost of cleaning supplies, with an itemized list of what was bought and what was done. It doesn't pay for your time. Keep every receipt. If a professional company did the work, its service charges can be reimbursed up to the $2,250 cap, along with any supplies you bought before it arrived.
Can the program pay for new carpet or drywall?
No. The program pays for cleanup, not repairs. Removing blood-soaked carpet and drywall as part of the cleaning counts, but buying and installing new carpet, drywall, or paint is structural repair, which the program excludes. Ask your homeowners' or renters' insurer about the repair side, and keep the cleanup invoice that lists each removed section.
How long do I have to apply?
You have 3 years from the date of the crime to apply, and the Attorney General's office can consider a later application when there's good cause for the delay. Filing sooner is easier, because invoices, police report numbers, and insurance letters are still close at hand. Arlington's police Victim Services Unit can help gather the paperwork and file.
Get a Free Estimate in Arlington
After a crime in an Arlington home, call 123-456-7890 for a free walkthrough and an invoice built for your Texas claim. Read more about our crime scene cleanup in Arlington.