About the Scheme
Under the Criminal Justice Assistance Reimbursement Scheme, people can claim compensation for loss or damages suffered as a result of acting as a witness or giving information to police.
The Criminal Justice Assistance Reimbursement Scheme provides compensation for people who have been victimised and suffered loss as a direct result of giving evidence in a criminal case that is punishable by imprisonment.
A person in a close relationship to a witness, who is victimised and suffers material loss as a result of assisting or caring for the witness, may also seek compensation.
The scheme offers a last resort for victims where no other source of assistance, relief or support exists.
Minimum and maximum claims
The minimum amount you can claim for under the scheme is $300. The maximum amount that will be compensated is $30,000 per incident, except in exceptional circumstances where not paying more would be a severe injustice.
Types of compensation
Compensation may be claimed for losses such as:
- the destruction of housing, vehicles, household contents and clothing
- accommodation expenses
- up to three months' lost earnings.
Cover for psychological injury, nervous shock or trauma is not covered.
Insurance
The scheme applies only where insurance cover is lacking or insufficient, or in areas where an existing scheme doesn't provide payment. The scheme can, however, at the discretion of the assessor, compensate for losses not covered or only partially covered by other forms of compensation.
Witness protection programme
In cases where the person claiming compensation is on, or has been on, the police witness protection programme, the scheme will only cover losses incurred before the person was placed on the programme.
Ministerial directive
The scheme was established by ministerial directive and administered by the Ministry of Justice Tribunals Unit. As it wasn't established by legislation, it has no statutory basis.
