Victims of Crime Compensation - Newark, New Jersey

Alyssa Piepszowski

Like many others, I would give 0 stars if that were an option. I only recommend this organization if you feel as though you were not traumatized enough by the crime that led you to qualify for their services. I submitted my claim 9 months ago on October 12, 2023. It is now July 11, 2024. Although they technically did process one part of my claim, it was only after I called and broke down on the phone with what I thought was my investigators supervisor. It took months to get the forms that I needed to have my doctors fill out, and when I finally got ahold of my investigator to acquire them, I am blamed for the lack of progress in my claim for not having the forms filled out... the ones I was never sent. But even after having them filled out and returned, my claims still hadn't been processed with the exception of the most recent one I filed.

I highly recommend having the support of a therapist or social worker if you have to submit a claim. Even having the support of one, I ended up having to get a second one to handle all of the stress. This organization is supposed to be here to help victims and take some of the burden off of them, yet instead they are just adding onto it.

And to everyone who is reading this because you too are struggling to get anywhere with this organization, I want you to know that your trauma and pain are valid. That whatever you went through was NOT your fault, even if the system is trying to convince you of that. I hope that you are able to find the support and healing in your life that you without a doubt deserve.

Quil Drake

I don’t understand how they recommend the people to a place where help should be given but never is.No one never answers the phone and person who assigned to my case I never even spoken too.They say other callers are in process too but even when I call early in morning no one never answers and even if you leave voicemail nobody answers until week later 👎🏾

Josephine Fersini

They listen , there more than fair . j need to go up there and finish all the documents that they need for my case.

Aaliyah Gadson

The people at this organization claim to want to help and be there for you however they just make matters worse. They try to make you feel delusional and down play your trauma as if it was what you deserved. I totally agree with another review on here when it says they pick and choose who they want to help because it is 100% true. You have to literally stalk them to get updates and such about your claim. They say they will call back but never do. Please don't waste your time with these people and have them make you relive a nightmare again from what you already went through. They do not care. They are not there to help.

alphonzo thompson

My experience with the VCCO NJ was very pleasant. I followed all steps documented on the website for "filing a claim" and was instantly generated a claim number and response requesting supporting documentation. After gathering my information from multiple sources, I submitted my documentation for review and was assigned an investigator. My Investigator, Lisa was OUTSTANDING!!! Speaking to Lisa was so pleasant. She always showed empathy and actually cared about my health and getting every dollar that is entitled to me as a victim. She kept me informed on every step of the process and her knowledge of the program and its requirements made me feel so at ease. I never felt like I was being put off or misinformed. I know at heart she has a heavy caseload with all the violence going on today, but I truly felt like I was her only claimant when speaking with her. She would call on Saturdays to confirm information when needed and always responded to every Email or Text msg I sent. So, Thank You Lisa; VCCO, for all your effort and kindness. Best wishes on all your future endeavors.

Jessica Wilson

Michelle Williams is very unprofessional and disrespectful she talks to you as if you’re bothering her this place is no help she hasn’t help with my claim in over a year. When you call the main # they all say the same thing a supervisor will contact you in 24-48 hours which isn’t true or they will send an email in regards to your claim. If you have a nasty attitude and don’t want to work please quit your job it’s so many people out here in Newark that need a job .

Evei Wonders

Would like to give more stars but the assigned investigator, Michelle Williams has made this an unnecessarily long an grueling process.

Over the past 2 months, I submitted all required documentation and communicated with the investigator regarding every concern; remaining in compliance in order to receive payment for relocation expenses and to move on after the incident. Although I requested further information on obtaining the payment, she did not communicate the process. It appeared this investigator managed to do everything humanly possible to keep me from understanding the process and from receiving payment from my claim. Her first error was sending a check to an address where I no longer reside due to the related insident. She was well informed of my whereabouts over the past two months, which was NOT the old address. To make matters worse she did not call to confirm the mailing address, but called my husband after the fact to tell him the payment had been sent. I sent her a USPS informed delivery email to show her that the check was received at my OLD address on or about October 27th. This was to prove where the payment was sent, and to verify that I had not received it. I was told by Michelle in the email response that she would communicate this information to the accounting department to rectify the situation.

Recently, it was confirmed by the chief investigator that the check would be reissued after it had been verified that the first check had not been cashed. I was told this over a week ago that it would take 1-2 business days to complete before reissuing a new check.
Even after speaking with the chief investigator to understand the process, current status and to provide a mailing address to send the payment, Michelle manages to STILL have difficulty sending the payment. She left me a voicemail message stating a duplicate check was being sent, but she needed the mailing address to be verified.

One would think she has to save the money herself or experience a wage garnish to submit the payment. At this point it is apparently intentional that she is giving me a hard time. The relevant question is “why?”. Why victimize a victim of a crime through misrepresentation and manipulation?

Final facts in this matter:
- Check dated 11/1/17
- Check mailed 11/8/17 (most likely received in 2-3 business days)
- Held at VCCO until 11/27/17
*there is something extremely wrong with this issue...a total misuse of privileges and abuse of the system.

Trifling! malicious! ridiculous!

It appears that almost everyone in Newark, NJ is like this...I guess it’s the water.

My rating is zero stars.

Shaquana Davis

I wish I can give 0 starts . This place is so rude . My investigator is very rude , talks over me , hangs up on me , and is constantly avoiding me . I have yet to receive my relocation check after it has been a month since I requested it . The supervisor never calls you back . She is just as bad as they are . For these people to be dealing with victims they are very heartless . I wish it was somebody I can contact above them so they could look into this organization