On Your Own; Your Legal Right @ Eighteen On Your Own formatted final version | Page 29

adult. When police officers contact you at the beginning of their
investigation, they should give you written information about your rights.
This information will include how to get help with things you might need
because of the crime and the court process. There are victim advocates
whose job it is to help you through this process. For more information
about your rights contact the Vermont Center for Crime Victim Services
online at www.ccvs.vermont.gov or by phone at 1-802-241-1250.
If you are the victim of a violent crime, you may be eligible for Victims
Compensation. Eligible expenses include, but are not limited to, crime-
related medical costs, mental health counseling, funeral expenses, and
loss of earnings. You must fill out a short application to be eligible to
receive compensation. Applications are available at your local police
department and state’s attorney’s office, or by contacting the Center from
Crime Victim Services.
If you are a victim of a crime where you suffer an uninsured material loss,
and the state's attorney is able to prosecute the case and obtain a
conviction, you may be entitled to restitution. The amount of restitution
is determined by a state court judge at the time the offender is sentenced.
You will need to prove that you have suffered a material loss—for
example, damage or loss of property, money, or income—before the court
can order restitution, and the state’s restitution fund can cover your loss.
Information will be provided by a victim's advocate attached to the state's
attorney's office.
Vermont employment law also extends its anti-discrimination and anti-
retaliation protections to crime victims. A “crime victim” is defined as any
individual who has sustained physical, emotional, or financial injury as a
direct result of the commission or attempted commission of a crime, as
well as any individual who has secured an order of protection against an
abuser or stalker. In practice, it is unlawful to deny employment to an
individual because of his or her crime victim status.
The law also extends leave rights to employees who have continuously
worked for six months or more, averaging at least 20 hours per
week. These eligible employees must be provided unpaid leave when
necessary to attend a deposition or court proceeding related to a criminal
proceeding or a hearing to secure an order of protection. Employees
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