OVC 2007 Report to the Nation, Fiscal Years 2005-2006: Rebuilding Lives, Restoring Hope

• NCJ Number: 217686
• Author(s): Shanelle Hunter; Jamie Whaley
• Date Published: October 2008
• Length: 125 pages
• Agencies: OVC
• Publication Type: Report (Annual/Periodic); Program/Project Description

Annotation

This Report to the Nation for fiscal years 2005 and 2006 highlights the work of the U.S. Justice Department's Office for Victims of Crime (OVC), which is charged by Congress with administering the Crime Victims Fund, channeling funds for victim assistance and victim compensation throughout the Nation, as well as services that assist millions of crime victims annually.

Abstract

In addition, OVC raises awareness of crime victims' issues, promotes compliance with victims' rights laws, provides training and technical assistance to service providers and allied professionals, and develops new resources that strengthen the field, often through innovative technology. The first three chapters of the report address the status of the Crime Victims Fund. They discuss the Fund's revenue sources, beneficiaries of the Fund, and forecasting the Fund's future stability. In fiscal years 2005 and 2006, $1.5 billion was deposited in the Fund to continue OVC's mission of fostering help and hope among victims. Of continuing concern to OVC, however, are the large fluctuations in deposits from year to year, as well as the Fund's reliance on a few large criminal fines to replenish it in the foreseeable future. Seven chapters of the report focus on services to crime victims. Two chapters consider victim assistance and compensation under the Federal Victims of Crime Act (VOCA). Another chapter discusses OVC's funding programs that are designed to address issues that disproportionately affect American Indian /Alaskan Native jurisdictions. Three chapters address OVC services to victims of terrorism and mass violence, human trafficking, and identity theft. OVC's efforts to uphold victims' rights are also discussed. Three chapters describe OVC programs that pertain to training and technical assistance, public awareness, and information resources. The three chapters on collaboration and partnerships report on faith-based initiatives, action partnerships, and interagency collaborations. Appended data on State victim assistance distributions, State victim compensation distributions, Children's Justice Act distributions, Tribal Victim Assistance distributions, and trafficking victims discretionary grant distributions