NCJ Number
184917
Date Published
February 2000
Length
2 pages
Annotation
Through its State Compensation and Assistance Division (SCAD), the Office for Victims of Crime (OVC) administers two major formula grant programs: victim compensation and victim assistance.
Abstract
During the past decade, the two formula grant programs have greatly improved the accessibility and quality of services to Federal and State crime victims. The SCAD awards annual compensation and assistance grants to States in accordance with the Victims of Crime Act (VOCA), VOCA Grant Program Guidelines, the Office of Justice Programs (OJP) Financial Guide, other internal OJP policies, and grant administration procedures. Victim compensation and victim assistance grant programs are supported by the Crime Victims Fund, a fund supported by fines, penalty assessments, and bond forfeitures collected from convicted Federal offenders. The OVC distributes more than 90 percent of the fund's deposits directly to States for compensation and assistance services for victims and survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, child abuse, drunk driving, homicide, and other crimes. All 50 States, the District of Columbia, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Guam have established victim compensation programs. Each program reimburses victims for such crime-related expenses as medical costs, mental health counseling, funeral and burial costs, and lost wages or loss of support when other financial resources do not cover the loss. All States and territories receive an annual VOCA victim assistance grant. Procedures followed by the SCAD to monitor formula grant programs are described, as well as training and technical assistance provided by the SCAD.