OVC funding opportunities made available via the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act are now closed.
On February 17, 2009, the President signed into law the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. More than $2.76 billion of the bill went to the Office of Justice Programs (OJP) to develop the Nation’s capacity to prevent and control crime, administer justice, and assist victims.
The law included a direct appropriation of $100 million in grant funding to be administered by OVC. Five million dollars of the $100 million was directed to discretionary grant projects. That $5 million was used to make awards under the Recovery Act–National Field-Generated Training, Technical Assistance and Demonstration Projects (NFG) competitive grant solicitation.
Ninety five percent ($95 million) was distributed among eligible state Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) crime victim compensation and victim assistance administering agencies. $47.5 million in Recovery Act–VOCA Victim Compensation Formula Grants were distributed among eligible state agencies that administer VOCA-funded crime victim compensation programs, and $47.5 million in Recovery Act–VOCA Victim Assistance Formula Grants were distributed among state agencies that administer VOCA-funded crime victim assistance programs.
FY 09 Recovery Act–Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) Victim Compensation Formula Grant Program (PDF 143 kb)—Each eligible state victim compensation program was awarded a Recovery Act - VOCA Victim Compensation Formula Grant to support the provision of crucial financial assistance to victims of crime. Each state, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and any other possession or territory of the United States that has an established crime victim compensation program was eligible to receive a grant. Funds were administered by OVC under the applicable provisions of VOCA, 42 U.S.C. 10602(a), the Final Program Guidelines for the VOCA Crime Victim Compensation Formula Grant Program, and the applicable provisions of the American Recovery and Restoration Act of 2009, H.R. 1.
FY 09 Recovery Act – Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) Victim Assistance Formula Grant Program (PDF 194 kb)—Each eligible state victim assistance program was awarded a Recovery Act - VOCA Victim Assistance Formula Grant to support the provision of services to victims of crime. Services are defined as those efforts that (1) respond to the emotional and physical needs of crime victims; (2) assist primary and secondary victims of crime to stabilize their lives after a victimization; (3) assist victims to understand and participate in the criminal justice system; and (4) provide victims of crime with a measure of safety and security such as boarding up broken windows and replacing and repairing locks. Each state, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, American Samoa, Guam, and Northern Mariana Islands is eligible to receive a grant. Funds were administered by OVC under the applicable provisions of VOCA, 42 U.S.C. 10603(a), the Final Program Guidelines for the VOCA Crime Victim Assistance Formula Grant Program, and the applicable provisions of the American Recovery and Restoration Act of 2009, H.R. 1.
Recognizing that many states may face difficulties recovering administrative costs up front, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) released a memo (PDF 40 kb) describing how state grantees can recover administrative costs related to carrying out Recovery Act programs and activities in a more timely manner.
On June 22, 2009, OMB issued "Implementing Guidance for the Reports on Use of Funds Pursuant to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009." The guidance consists of three documents:
If you have any questions about the requirements contained in the guidance, please e-mail OMB. OMB held a series of webinars in July 2009 concerning the reporting guidance. DOJ staff participated in these webinars and will continue to keep you informed as additional information becomes available.
Organizations that have received grant funding through the American Recovery and Investment Act from OVC are making the most of their awards in a wide variety of inspiring and often innovative ways.
National Crime Prevention Council
The overall goal of the Underserved Teen Victim Initiative, which is being carried out by the National Crime Prevention Council (NCPC) in partnership with the National Center for Victims of Crime (NCVC), is to identify promising strategies for reaching and supporting underserved populations of teen victims and building the capacity of service professionals to reach and support these teen victims. Twenty-four pilot sites have been awarded subgrant funds. Each site represents a different underserved youth population and the project is designed to provide culturally relevant services when youth respond to outreach and seek victim assistance. Four of the pilot sites are acting as mentor sites which have experience in reaching out to underserved youth.
Youth Alive
Youth Alive’s National Network of Hospital-Based Violence Interventions Programs Training and Technical Assistance Project provides training and technical assistance to eight hospital-based sites across the country to support intervention services to prevent further victimization of young people being treated for violence-related injuries and promotes program sustainability, the development and dissemination of resources, and gathers information relevant to public policies related to violent youth victimization.
National Center for Victims of Crime
The purpose of the Training and Technical Assistance on the Impact of Forensic DNA on Victims for Victim Service Providers and Allied Professionals project from the National Center for Victims of Crime (NCVC) is to develop resources to increase the capacity of those who work with victims to provide victims with informed and sensitive guidance related to matters involving forensic DNA. NCVC is accomplishing this goal by: (1) holding a 2-day training conference on DNA and victims for OVC grantees and others (held May 2010); (2) developing and delivering eight 1-hour webinar training sessions on topics related to DNA and victims for victim service providers and allied professionals; and (3) creating and posting a series of Web resources with timely and accurate information on DNA and victims.
National Sheriffs’ Association
The National Sheriffs Association, in partnership with Justice Solutions, is creating a protocol for law enforcement agencies on how to best serve survivors of homicide during cold case investigations. The Serving Survivors of Homicide Victims During Cold Case Investigations project also is developing related resources for law enforcement, victim service providers, and families of homicide victims whose cases have gone cold. The specific activities of the project are the following: (1) compilation of information and resources on existing efforts to include survivors of homicide victims in cold case investigations; (2) development of a protocol for working with survivors during these investigations; and (3) promotion of the protocol and resources to law enforcement agencies and victim service providers through conference workshop trainings and other means.
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The Office for Victims of Crime is a component of the Office of Justice Programs, U.S. Department of Justice.
