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Latest Releases

2013 National Crime Victims’ Rights Week Online Resource Guide
The National Crime Victims’ Rights Week (NCVRW) Online Resource Guide is designed to help communities and victim assistance providers promote awareness of crime victim issues. The Guide is available in English and Spanish and includes educational content, campaign materials, artwork, and a theme DVD. New this year are three pre-produced 30-second PSAs addressing child sexual abuse, child sex trafficking, and elder financial fraud. The 2013 NCVRW Resource Guide (NCJ 239229) and Poster (PS000025) are also available to order through the Publications and Products section of the National Criminal Justice Reference Service Web site.

For additional information pertaining to NCVRW, visit our NCVRW Web site.

Directory of Training and Technical Assistance Resources for Anti-Human Trafficking Task Forces and Service Providers (December 2012)
OVC and BJA have launched a Directory of Training and Technical Assistance Resources for Anti-Human Trafficking Task Forces and Service Providers. The directory includes "distance learning," "in-person training" and "training by request" opportunities. It is an excellent resource for practitioners and task forces actively working in the field to expand and enhance their knowledge.

OVC News & Program Updates (November 2012) (PDF 525 kb)
This issue focuses on closing gaps in victim services and includes profiles that underscore how a victim’s steps toward recovery may take unexpected turns, with inspiring results. Articles in this edition highlight—

• Healing Through Art workshops for individuals and families recovering from the traumatic physical, financial, emotional, and spiritual effects of crime.
• The final rule to prevent, detect, and respond to sexual abuse in confinement facilities in accordance with the Prison Rape Elimination Act of 2003.
• An empowering interview with Julia Dunkins who, after suffering the loss of both her husband and son to homicide, became a committed activist and advocate for other survivors.
• Help for young victims healing from trauma and violence.
• Advances made in the victims field through statistics, research, and evaluation.
• Resources available for family members of homicide victims.
• OVC's tribute to the legacy of Irina Romashkan.

Multidisciplinary Response to Crime Victims With Disabilities (September 2012)
Persons with disabilities face daily obstacles to safety and justice and remain at high risk for caregiver abuse, domestic and sexual violence, exploitation, and other crimes. In 2007, OVC awarded funds to two grantees to adapt and replicate their innovative, multidisciplinary response models that serve crime victims with disabilities. The replication guides in this set—one statewide (NCJ 239107) and one community based (NCJ 239108)—are the products of this 3-year project.

Supporting Crime Victims With Disabilities Curriculum (June 2012)
This 3-day training curriculum is designed for victim service providers, advocates for people with disabilities, self-advocates, and allied professionals. Using case studies and small group discussions, participants will examine the prevalence of crime against people with disabilities, perceptions of the criminal justice system, tenets of the disabilities movement, and the impact of disabilities on daily life.

The training materials are available in both English and Spanish from the OVC’s Training and Technical Assistance Center.

OVC News & Program Updates (June 2012) (PDF 627 kb)
This edition details responses to underserved victims of crime. Articles in this issue highlight—

• Improved responses for male crime victims.
• Getting to know Mary Lou Leary, Acting Assistant Attorney General.
• An empowering account of a hate crime from an advocate for the Native LGBT/Two-Spirit community.
• Training available for building military-civilian community partnerships to better serve military sexual assault victims.
• Americans living overseas who experience domestic violence.
• Facts about sexual assault in the military and efforts to combat it.

OVC HELP Series for Crime Victims (June 2012)
This series of nine brochures features information and resources for victims of crime and victim service professionals on the topics of assault, child abuse, domestic violence, homicide, impaired driving, robbery, sexual violence, and stalking. Each brochure defines a type of victimization; discusses what to do if you are a victim of this crime and where to go for help; and provides resources for more information and assistance.

OVC Fast Facts: Office for Victims of Crime Reports on FYs 2009–10 Programs and Services (April 2012)
Based on the Report to the Nation 2011, OVC Fast Facts summarizes the progress made in upholding victims’ rights and providing assistance to victims of crime. During fiscal years 2009–10, OVC provided $1.2 billion to support compensation and assistance to 7 million victims. For more highlights on OVC’s strategic efforts to address both new and long-standing challenges to improving victim services, download OVC Fast Facts.

Office for Victims of Crime Training and Technical Assistance Center (April 2012) (PDF 575 kb)
OVC, Fact Sheet, OVC Fact Sheets, FS000384.
This Fact Sheet describes the services and trainings available through the OVC Training and Technical Assistance Center (OVC TTAC) and how these resources can be accessed.

Crime Victims Fund (2012)
OVC, Fact Sheet, OVC Fact Sheets, 4 pages, FS 000382.
This fact sheet provides information about the Fund, established by the Victims of Crime Act (VOCA), and the various grant programs (formula and discretionary) funded using VOCA dollars.

OVC Report to the Nation 2011, Fiscal Years 2009–2010: Rising to the Challenge—A New Era in Victim Services (March 2012)
This biennial report summarizes the programs, activities, and accomplishments of the Office for Victims of Crime (OVC) in fiscal years 2009 and 2010, and their impact on victims, survivors, and communities. It describes the Crime Victims Fund—a significant resource for supporting services to victims; identifies enduring and emerging challenges in victim services; and discusses public awareness, education, and outreach endeavors. Each section summarizes victims’ needs in that area and relates how funding from OVC makes a crucial difference in the lives of crime victims. This interactive PDF features four multimedia components.