NCJ Number
250634
Date Published
June 2017
Length
2 pages
Annotation
This 2015-2016 online summary report on the programs and services of the U.S. Justice Department's Office for Victims of Crime (OVC) addresses its progress in upholding victims rights and providing assistance to crime victims, survivors, and communities during these fiscal years.
Abstract
The Crime Victims Fund (the Fund) was established by the Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) of 1984 to provide federal funding for victim services nationwide. In 1988, VOCA was amended to establish the OVC as the administrator of the Fund. In FYs 2015 and 2016, Congress increased the Fund's appropriation from $745 million in FY 2014 to $2.361 billion in FY 2015. In FY 2016, Congress again increased the appropriation cap to 3.042 billion. In FYs 2015 and 2016, VOCA-funded assistance reached 11,625,747 crime victims. Victims were most often compensated for claims related to assault, child abuse (including sexual and physical abuse), and sexual assault. In FYs 2015-2016, OVC continued to address the needs of human trafficking victims, working with other federal agencies to provide training, technical assistance, and resources to improve the community response to human trafficking. OVC supported partnerships with law enforcement agencies at the state, tribal, and local levels to combat crime, promote safer neighborhoods, and establish collaborations between police and their communities. OVC awarded congressionally appropriated Vision 21 funds to demonstration sites in Montana and Virginia in order to enhance cooperation among healthcare, child welfare, justice, and other systems in coordinating efforts to provide young victims and their families with holistic services. In addition, OVC maintained its support for technical and training assistance.