Crime Victim Assistance (16.575)

Program

16.575 Crime Victim Assistance

Federal Agency

Agency: Department of Justice
Office: Office Of Victims Of Crime

Authorization

42 U.S.C. 10603(a).

Program Number

16.575

Last Known Status

Active

Objectives

Enacted in 1984, the Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) is the central source of federal financial support for direct services to victim of crime. VOCA is administered at the federal level through the U.S. Department of Justice, Office for Victims of Crime which annually awards a grant to each state, the District of Columbia and U.S. Territories to support victim assistance services for victims and survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, child abuse, drunk driving, homicide, and other crimes. Each state has a designated VOCA assistance agency to administer VOCA grants. Those state agencies in turn, subgrant to organizations that provide direct services to victims of crime. While minimal federal requirements must be met, each state is given great discretion in awarding specific subgrants.

Types of Assistance

FORMULA GRANTS

Uses and Use Restrictions

Funds under this program shall be used by States and territories to provide direct services to crime victims with the following exception: States may retain up to 5 percent of their grant for administrative and training purposes. All States and most Territories receive an annual VOCA victim assistance grant. Each State, the District of Columbia, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico receive a base amount of $500,000. The territories of the Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, and American Samoa, each receive a base amount of $200,000. (Duplicative of next sentence)That portion of the then remaining funds will be divided among all States or territories according to population (U.S. Census Bureau). If the amount available for grants under this program is insufficient to provide $500,000 to each State, the base amount available shall be distributed equally among the States and territories. A victim assistance program is an eligible crime victim assistance program under VOCA if it: (A) is operated by a public agency or a nonprofit organization, or combination; (B) meets the appropriate match requirements; (C) uses volunteers unless the VOCA administrator grants a waiver for a compelling reason; (D) promotes coordinated public and private efforts to aid crime victims within the community served; (E) assists victims in applying for crime victim compensation; (F) complies with Federal rules regulating VOCA, including Program Guidelines/Rules and the effective edition of the OJP Financial Guide; (G) maintains civil rights information; (H) complies with additional eligibility or service criteria established by the State grantees; (I) provides services to victims of Federal crimes on the same basis as services are provided to victims of State and local crimes; (J) provides services to crime victims without charge unless a waiver is obtained from the State grantee; and, (K) maintains confidentiality of client-counselor and research information. An eligible crime victim assistance program shall expend sums received under subsection (a) only for providing direct services to victims of crime. The chief executive of each State shall (A) certify that priority shall be given to eligible crime victim assistance programs providing assistance to victims of sexual assault, spousal abuse, or child abuse, and to programs serving previously underserved victims of violent crime, as determined by the State, (B) certify that funds awarded to eligible crime victim assistance programs will not be used to supplant State and local funds otherwise available for crime victim assistance; and (C) provide such other information and assurances related to the purposes of this section as the Director may reasonably require. As used in this program, (1) the term "State" includes the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the United States Virgin Islands, and any other territory or possession of the United States; and (2) the term "services to victims of crime" includes (a) crisis intervention services to provide emotional support in cases arising from the occurrence of crime; (b) providing, in an emergency, transportation to court, short-term child care services, and temporary housing and security measures; (c) assistance in participating in criminal justice proceedings; and (d) payment of all reasonable costs for a forensic medical examination of sexual assault victims, to the extent that such costs are otherwise not reimbursed or paid; (3) the term "chief executive" includes a person designated by the governor to perform the functions of the chief executive under this section.

Eligibility Requirements

Applicant Eligibility

Any State, the District of Columbia, all Commonwealths and any other territory or possession of the United States are eligible. Funds will be subgranted to eligible public and nonprofit organizations or combinations of such agencies or organizations or of both such agencies and organizations, who provide direct services to victims of crime.

Beneficiary Eligibility

Any member of the general public who has been a victim of a crime or those who are survivors of victims of crime.

Credentials/Documentation

Applications from the designated State agency for this program must be submitted on Standard Form 424 electronically via the Office of Justice Programs Grants Management System (GMS), at a time specified by the Office for Victims of Crime, Office of Justice Programs. The State grant applicant, by completing the grant application, and by receiving a VOCA victim assistance grant award, certifies: (1) that funds awarded to eligible crime victim assistance programs will not be utilized to supplant State and/or local funds that would otherwise be available for crime victim assistance; (2) that the State will provide such accounting, auditing, monitoring and evaluation procedures as may be necessary, and keep such records as the Office of Justice Programs may prescribe, to assure fiscal control, proper management and efficient disbursement of Federal funds; (3) that the State shall give priority to programs aiding victims of sexual assault, spousal abuse, or child abuse, and to programs serving previously underserved victims of violent crimes as determined by the State; (4) that the State will submit to the Office of Justice Programs Subgrant Award Reports and Performance Reports concerning the activities carried out with the Federal funds received and will maintain and report such data and information as required; (5) that the State will adhere to the audit and financial management requirements set forth in the OJP Financial Guide; (6) that the State will comply with all applicable Federal nondiscrimination requirements; and, (7) certify that the information in the application is correct and that the State will comply with all applicable provisions of the Victims of Crime Act and other Federal laws, regulations, and circulars. Costs will be determined in accordance with OMB Circular No. A-87 for State and local governments. OMB Circular No. A-87 applies to this program.

Application and Award Process

Preapplication Coordination

Preapplication coordination is required. Environmental impact information is not required for this program. This program is excluded from coverage under E.O. 12372.

Application Procedure

OMB Circular No. A-102 applies to this program. This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-110. The applicant applies on-line at http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov under "Grants/Funding" once posted by the Office for Victims of Crime.

Award Procedure

The Director, Office for Victims of Crime, Office of Justice Programs has final approval authority. Once an award is granted to a State, the State will subgrant the monies to private nonprofit and/or public agencies for the purpose specified in the application and in conformance with all general and special conditions.

Deadlines

Contact the headquarters or regional office, as appropriate, for application deadlines.

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time

From 3 to 4 weeks.

Appeals

Hearing by the Assistant Attorney General, Office of Justice Programs.

Renewals

Awards are for the year of award plus 3 years; applications will be submitted annually.

Assistance Considerations

Formula and Matching Requirements

Statutory formulas are not applicable to this program.

Matching requirements are not applicable to this program.

MOE requirements are not applicable to this program.

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance

States have the year of award plus 3 years to expend the funds. See the following for information on how assistance is awarded/released: Please contact the program office for more information.

Post Assistance Requirements

Reports

Program reports are not applicable. Cash reports are not applicable. Subgrant Award Report for each subrecipient of VOCA funds. Quarterly, final financial reports will be required as stipulated in the Program Guidelines/Rules and the OJP Financial Guide. Annual Program Performance reports will be required.

Audits

This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-133. All organizations that expend $500,000 or more in federal funds per organizational fiscal year must have a single audit for that year in accordance with OMB Circular No. A-133, as amended. The audit report and transmittal letter must be submitted within 9 months from the end of the state fiscal year.

Records

Financial records, supporting documents, statistical records, and all other records pertinent to a grant shall be retained for a period of at least three years after the grant has been closed.

Program Accomplishments

Fiscal Year 2008: In FY 08, an estimated 3,780,068 crime victims received a combined total of 17,103,883 direct services through this program (Source: FY 2008 VOCA Victim Assistance Nationwide Performance Report Summary). Fiscal Year 2009: No Current Data Available Fiscal Year 2010: No Current Data Available

Financial Information

Account Identification

15-5041-0-2-754.

Obligations

(Formula Grants) FY 08 $309,094,057; FY 09 est $363,711,000; FY 10 est $302,972,000

Range and Average of Financial Assistance

Base of $500,000 to each State, Commonwealth, and the District of Columbia. Territories of the United States receive a base of $200,000. Remaining dollars will be divided based on population.

Regulations, Guidelines and Literature

Program Guidelines/Rules are published in the Federal Register. The OJP Financial Guide is available at http://www.usdoj.gov/oc, or call the Office of the Comptroller, Customer Service Center at 1-800-458-0786 to request a copy.

Related Programs

16.576 Crime Victim Compensation

Information Contacts

Regional or Local Office

None.

Headquarters Office

Toni L. Thomas Domestic and International Victim Assistance Services, Office for Victims of Crime, Office of Justice Programs, Department of Justice, 810 Seventh Street, NW., Washington, District of Columbia 20531 Phone: 202-307-5983

Web Site Address

http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/ovc/.

Examples of Funded Projects

Fiscal Year 2008: Potential projects include, but are not limited to: funding to support (a) domestic violence shelter services; (b) rape crisis programs, including coverage for sexual assault examinations: child abuse treatment programs; and (d) support groups for survivors of homicide victim and DUI/DWI crash victims, etc. Fiscal Year 2009: No Current Data Available Fiscal Year 2010: No Current Data Available

Criteria for Selecting Proposals

Criteria for selecting proposals are specifically spelled out in the Victims of Crime Act of 1984, as amended. Additional criteria will be developed by the Office for Victims of Crime. These criteria are listed on the OVC web page www.ojp.usdoj.gov.