About the Board

The California Victim Compensation Program (CalVCP)
CalVCP provides compensation for victims of violent crime. CalVCP provides eligible victims with reimbursement for many crime-related expenses. CalVCP funding comes from restitution paid by criminal offenders through fines, orders, penalty assessments and federal matching funds.

History of the Board

The Victim Compensation and Government Claims Board (VCGCB) was first established in 1911 and was known as the Board of Control. It was responsible for supervising the business affairs of all state departments, hospitals, prisons, reformatories, boards, commissions, bureaus, and the Department of Public Accounting. In 1927, its oversight role ended. Thereafter, its duties included the adoptions of rules and regulations governing the presentation and audit of contract or tort claims. Its duties were expanded in 1963 with the enactment of the Torts Claims Act, which the VCGCB administers on behalf of the State.

In 1965, California created the nation's first Victim Compensation Program. Responsibility for this program was transferred to the VCGCB in 1967 and has since become its largest program.

The VCGCB's responsibilities have increased over the years and in 2001 its name was changed to more accurately reflect its roles and responsibilities. Today the VCGCB administers the State's Government Claims Program, Victim Compensation Program and Revenue Recovery Program. Its responsibilities extend to a number of other matters including the handling of bid protests, handling claims of erroneously convicted felons, administering the California State Employees Charitable Campaign, setting rates for travel expenses for elected state officials and the judiciary, establishing per diem rates for members of the Legislature, and administering both the Good Samaritan Act and the Missing Children Reward Program.