Crime Victim Assistance/Discretionary Grants (16.582)
Program
16.582 Crime Victim Assistance/Discretionary Grants
Federal Agency
OFFICE OF JUSTICE PROGRAMS, OFFICE FOR VICTIMS OF CRIME, DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
Authorization
Victims of Crime Act of 1984, as amended, Public Law 98-473, Children's Justice and Assistance Act of 1986, as amended, Public Law 99-401, Section 1404; Anti-Drug Abuse Act of 1988, Public Law 100-690, Title VII, Subtitle D; Departments of Commerce, Justice, State, the Judiciary, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act of 1995; Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994, Subtitle C, Public Law 104-132; Anti-Terrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act of 1996; Omnibus Consolidated Appropriations Act of 1997, Public Law 104-298; Victims of Trafficking and Violence Protection Act of 2000, Public Law 106-386; Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Enforcement Act of 2000, and the Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act of 2001, (Public Law 107-56 referred to as the USA Patriot Act of 2001).
Program Number
16.582
Last Known Status
Active
Objectives
The Office for Victims of Crime (OVC) administers a discretionary grant program and other assistance programs for crime victims with amounts set-aside from deposits into the Crime Victims Fund for (a) demonstration projects and training and technical assistance services to eligible crime victims assistance programs; (b) for the financial support of services to victims of Federal crime by eligible crime victim assistance programs; and (c) to provide funding and other support following cases of terrorism or mass violence 42 U.S.C. Section 10601. The purpose of the demonstration and training and technical assistance grants is to improve the overall quality of services delivered to crime victims through the provision of training and technical assistance to providers. Funds are also available to improve the Federal and State response to victims of Federal crime, including terrorism occurring within and outside the United States. Of the amount available for training and technical assistance and services to victims of Federal crimes, no less than 50 percent shall be used for demonstration programs and training and technical assistance, and not more than 50 percent for services to victims of Federal crimes. Amounts set-aside for the response to terrorism or mass violence come from a reserve fund authorized by Congress under the Antiterrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act of 1996, Public Law 104-132, the Victims of Trafficking and Violence Protection Act of 2000, Public Law 106-386, and the USA Patriot Act of 2001, Public Law 107-56.
Types of Assistance
Project Grants; Direct Payments for Specified Use.
Uses and Use Restrictions
Funds are available specifically for (a) demonstration projects and training and technical assistance service to eligible crime victim assistance programs; (b) for the financial support of services to victims of Federal crime by eligible crime victim assistance programs; and (c) for services to victims of terrorism or mass violence, and compensation benefits for victims of international terrorism. For the purpose of the grants authorized in 42 U.S.C. 10603, an eligible crime victim assistance program is defined as: (a) operated by a public agency or a nonprofit organization, or a combination of such agencies or organizations or both such agencies and organizations, and providing service to victims of crime; (b) demonstrating (i) a record of providing effective services to victims of crime and financial support from sources other than the Fund; or (ii) substantial financial support from sources other than the Fund; (c) utilizing volunteers in providing such services, unless to the extent the chief executive determines that compelling reasons exist to waive this requirement; (d) promoting within the community served coordinated public and private efforts to the crime victims; and (e) assisting potential recipients in seeking crime victim compensation benefits. For terrorism or mass violence occurring outside the U.S., eligible applicants for funding under the Antiterrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act and the Victims of Trafficking and Violence Protection Act, includes states, victim service organizations, and public agencies (including Federal, State or local governments) and non-governmental organizations that provide assistance to victims of crime. For the purpose of grants authorized for assistance to victims of federal crime, services includes (a) training of law enforcement personnel in the delivery of services to victims of Federal crime; (b) preparation, publication, and distribution of informational materials, setting forth services offered to victims of crime; and concerning services for victims of Federal crime for use by Federal law enforcement and other responsible Federal officials; and (c) salaries of personnel who provide services to victims of crime, to the extent that these personnel provide such services. Funded activities for victims of terrorism or mass violence may include emergency relief, including crisis response efforts, assistance, training and technical assistance, and ongoing assistance, including during any investigation or prosecution to victims of terrorist acts or mass violence occurring outside the United States.
Eligibility Requirements
Applicant Eligibility
Criteria will vary depending on the grant or grant program. Generally, eligible applicants may include American Indian/Alaska Native Tribes and tribal organizations, States, United States Attorneys' offices, eligible public agencies that provide victim services and private nonprofit agencies. Applicants for Tribal Victim Assistance grants must be an Indian Tribe, Tribal organization, partnership or nonprofit organization that provides direct services to victims of crime in Indian Country.
Beneficiary Eligibility
Eligible victim assistance agencies. Eligibility depends on the nature of the grant but may include a wide variety of public and private nonprofit agencies.
Credentials/Documentation
Applications for this program must be submitted electronically via the Office of Justice Programs Grants Management System. OVC develops an application kit that includes funding strategy, eligibility requirements, required certifications that must be submitted at a time specified by the Office for Victims of Crime, Office of Justice Programs and must contain the following certification and assurances: (1) assure that the applicant 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; (2) assure that the applicant will adhere to the audit and financial management requirements set forth in the effective edition of the OJP Financial Guide; (3) assure that the applicant will comply with all applicable nondiscrimination requirements; (4) certify that the applicant will comply with certifications regarding Lobbying, Debarment, Suspension, and Drug-Free Workplace Requirements (OJP Form 4061/6); and other responsibility matters; and, (5) certify that the information in the application is correct and that the applicant will comply with all applicable provisions of the Victims of Crime Act and other Federal laws, (including subtitle A, Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) 1990) regulations, and circulars. Costs will be determined in accordance with OMB Circular No. A-87 or OMB Circular No. A-133. Applicants from other types of agencies will use forms to be provided by OVC. See OVC guidelines published in the Federal Register for application requirements for Antiterrorism and Reserve Fund funding.
Application and Award Process
Preapplication Coordination
The standard application form furnished by the Federal agency in accordance with 28 CFR, Part 66 (Common Rule) must be used for all grants made by OVC. This program is excluded from coverage under E.O. 12372.
Application Procedure
In accordance with the Common Rule, Standard Form 424 must be submitted by nonfederal agencies in applying for funding under this program. These are available from the grantor agency. At the time of submission, an original and two copies are required. Forms for funds other than grants or for use by Federal agencies will be supplied by OVC. This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-110. (See OVC guidelines for application procedures for Antiterrorism and Emergency Assistance Program for Terrorism and Mass Violence Crimes, funding in Federal Register January 31, 2002).
Award Procedure
Generally awards will be made on a competitive basis with applications reviewed by a panel of subject matter experts who will assess application submissions based on established criteria and forward a recommendation to the Director. The Assistant Attorney General, Office of Justice Programs has final approval authority. (See OVC guidelines for award procedures for Antiterrorism and Emergency Reserve funding.)
Deadlines
Deadlines will be announced by OVC in its Fiscal Year 2003 Discretionary Grant Application Kit. The kit is available only on-line at the OVC homepage at http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/ovc/.
Range of Approval/Disapproval Time
Appeals
Hearing by the Assistant Attorney General, Office of Justice Programs.
Renewals
Awards range from 6 to 24 months, unless otherwise noted. Supplements are considered on a case-by-case basis. (See OVC guidelines for Antiterrorism and Emergency Assistance Program for Terrorism and Mass Violence Crimes.)
Assistance Considerations
Formula and Matching Requirements
There are no formula or matching requirements for discretionary funding, unless stated in the funding applications. The Tribal Victim Assistance Discretionary Grants requires a 10 percent "in-kind" match. Federal agencies are not expected to provide a financial contribution, but in general are asked to demonstrate a commitment to continuing the funded effort after OVC funding is terminated.
Length and Time Phasing of Assistance
Any amount awarded that remains unspent at the end of a fiscal year in which the award is made may be expended for the purpose for which the award is made at any time during the three succeeding fiscal years, at the end of which period, any remaining unobligated sums shall be available for deposit into the emergency reserve fund referred to in subsection (d)(5) of the VOCA at the discretion of the Director. Any remaining unobligated sums shall be returned to the Fund. Funds are released via the Electronic Transfer System (formerly the Letter of Credit System) on an as needed basis to the Recipient.
Post Assistance Requirements
Reports
Quarterly financial reports and semi-annual progress reports will be required as stipulated in the effective edition of the OJP Financial Guide. A final financial and program report also will be required.
Audits
All organizations that expend financial assistance of $300,000 or more in any fiscal year must have a single audit for that year in accordance with OMB Circular No. A-133, as amended, unless the audit condition on the award says otherwise. These audits are due to the cognizant Federal agency not later than 9 months after the end of the grantee's fiscal year.
Records
Financial records, supporting documents, statistical records, and all other records pertinent to a grant shall be retained for a period of three years.
Program Accomplishments
OVC supports the development of training, technical assistance, and demonstration projects to expand and improve the quality of services to crime victims. In recent years, OVC has directed substantial funding to developing resources for the field that will assist victim advocates and other allied practitioners in reaching and serving victims from populations that have been largely unserved, including victims with disabilities, immigrant victims, and victims from cultural, ethnic and racial minority groups. Serving child and adult victims of sexual assault remains problematic for many communities, and OVC continues to support several training and technical resources that foster the replication of enhancement of Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) and Sexual Assault Response Teams across the nation, including two pilot SANE programs in Indian Country. Various other solicitations provide funding for projects in Indian Country. These grants support victim assistance programs for Indian tribes under Federal criminal justice jurisdiction, including 28 victim assistance programs, one elder abuse demonstration program, a training and technical assistance grant for OVC's American Indian grantees, tribal CASA programs, and a project to provide training to tribal leaders on the critical role of their support of tribal victim assistance programs. OVC also supports public awareness initiatives on crime victims' rights and issues, including the annual dissemination of a resource kit to the field to assist their activities during National Crime Victims Rights Week (NCVRW) and the sponsorship of an annual NCVRW awards ceremony for exemplary service providers and organizations. During FY 2003, OVC discretionary funding will be directed at several areas, including the faith-based response to crime victims, implementation of victims rights, underserved crime victims in both urban and rural settings, victim assistance in Indian Country, working with grass roots organizations to identify and replicate promising practices in serving victims, as well as the development and dissemination of information and training for a wide variety of practitioners who work with crime victims. In addition, with the increased threat of terrorism against Americans worldwide, OVC created a new Terrorism and International Victims Unit (TIVU) which is responsible for developing programs and initiatives to help victims of terrorism, mass violence and crimes that have transnational dimensions. OVC has provided funding for assistance and services for victims of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks in the USA, Oklahoma City, the bombings of Pan Am 103, the US Embassies in Kenya and Tanzania, Khobar Towers, and the USS Cole. Assistance has included toll-free information lines, family web sites, informational briefings, travel to criminal justice proceedings, and mental health counseling. In addition, OVC works in liaison with other Federal agencies to coordinate services for victims of terrorism; has worked with the Center for Mental Health Services at HHS to develop training for mental health service providers on assisting victims of terrorism and mass violence; is working with the Office for Domestic Preparedness to provide training to enhance the capacity of first responders to deal effectively with victims of terrorism; provides funding for a community-based assessment and planning process to help states and local communities design and implement a strategic plan for responding to victims of criminal mass violence; and provides funding to track kidnapped children taken across international borders (in parental abductions) to help their left-behind parents attend court hearings and return to the US with their children. In FY 2002, OVC will continue many of these projects as well as setting aside money in the Antiterrorism and Emergency Reserve to respond to future incidents of terrorism and mass violence occurring both within the United States and abroad and to fund an International Terrorism Victim Compensation Program.
Financial Information
Account Identification
15-5041-0-2-754.
Obligations
(Grants) FY 02 $14,339,865; FY 03 est $12,550,960; and FY 04 est $25,000,000.
Range and Average of Financial Assistance
For the Federal Crime Victims Division, approximately $40,000 to $275,000.
Regulations, Guidelines and Literature
Discretionary Grant Application Kit and current edition of the OJP Financial Guide, is available on line at the OVC webpage at http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/ovc.
Related Programs
16.321, Antiterrorism and Emergency Assistance Program; 16.320, Services for Trafficking Victims; 16.575, Crime Victim Assistance.
Information Contacts
Regional or Local Office
None.
Headquarters Office
Office for Victims of Crime, Office of Justice Programs, Department of Justice, 810 Seventh Street, NW., Washington, DC 20531. Telephone: (202) 307-5983.
Web Site Address
Examples of Funded Projects
Potential projects include, but are not limited to: demonstrations programs that assist victims in rural communities or those programs meeting the needs of special populations such immigrant victims; training and technical assistance for States and local communities to help when responding to terrorism and mass violence; training to improve or expand victim services provided by particular groups of professionals such as judges, prosecutors, law enforcement professionals, and medical personnel.
Criteria for Selecting Proposals
General criteria for selecting proposals are spelled out in the Victims of Crime Act, 42 U.S.C. Section 10601-10604 (Supp.1981). Additional criteria may be developed by the Office for Victims of Crime and will be published in the OJP grant packages.
