Learn about laws and policies as well as additional informational resources to help State Administering Agencies manage their VOCA Victim Compensation awards.
The following laws and policies govern the administration of VOCA Compensation formula funding.
Created in 1983 to implement recommendations from the President’s Task Force on Victims of Crime, OVC was authorized in 1988 through an amendment to the Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) of 1984 to administer the Crime Victims Fund, which provides funds to states for victim assistance and compensation programs that offer support and services to those affected by violent crimes. Guidance provided for the victim assistance and compensation grant programs is in accordance with VOCA.
VOCA Fix to Sustain the Crime Victims Fund Act of 2021
This law, which went into effect on July 22, 2021, is a historic effort to stabilize the Crime Victims Fund. Among other provisions, this law—
- Requires that all the fines and penalties collected by the Federal Government under deferred and non-prosecution agreements be deposited into the Crime Victims Fund;
- Allows an exception to the federal requirement that an eligible crime victim compensation program promote victim cooperation with law enforcement;
- Allows or requires states to waive matching requirements for Crime Victims Fund grant funds under certain circumstances; and
- Provides the Attorney General with the authority to provide no-cost extensions to all VOCA award recipients.
Victim Compensation Grant Program Guidelines (en Español)
These Program Guidelines for the VOCA Victim Compensation Formula Grant Program, issued in May 2001, are in accordance with VOCA and are all inclusive. These guidelines supersede any VOCA Victim Compensation Formula Grant Program Guidelines previously issued by OVC.
The DOJ Grants Financial Guide (the Guide) is the primary reference manual to assist OVC award recipients in fulfilling their financial responsibility to safeguard grant funds and ensure funds are used for the purposes for which they were awarded. It compiles a variety of laws, rules and regulations that affect the financial and administrative management of your award. Recipients (and subrecipients) should refer to their award terms and conditions to determine the specific requirements that apply to their award.
This Guide should be the starting point for all recipients and subrecipients in ensuring the effective day-to-day management of awards.
This guidance clarifies how the payer of last resort provision for certain Indian health programs under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act applies to victim compensation programs.
Crowdfunding and VOCA Compensation
This memorandum informs victim compensation programs of considerations that may apply when victims of crime are beneficiaries of crowdfunding campaigns.
This memorandum serves to provide clarification regarding the charging and certification of forensic exam payments with respect to victim compensation programs.
VOCA Fix Exception RE: VOCA Compensation Eligibility Requirement to Promote Victim Cooperation with Law Enforcement (en Español)
This bulletin clarifies additional criteria state compensation programs may consider when granting exceptions to the requirement to promote victim cooperation with law enforcement in order for victims to be eligible for compensation.
Characteristics of Well-Supported Payment Amounts for Lost Wages & Loss of Support
Victim compensation programs should adhere to federal and DOJ grant record-keeping requirements regarding processing and maintaining records for claims, including claims for wage loss and loss of support. Refer to this resource to help your agency implement or improve its policies and processes for lost wages and loss of support payments.
Guide to Completing Financial Status Reports (SF-425) for VOCA Victim Compensation Grantees
This guide provides line-by-line guidance to victim compensation grantees when completing their quarterly federal financial reports.
Time and Effort Best Practices for VOCA-Funded Personnel
This document serves as a resource for VOCA recipients when documenting salaries, wages, and fringe benefits for grant funded personnel. Where grant recipients work on multiple grant programs or cost activities, documentation must support a reasonable allocation or distribution of costs among specific activities or cost objectives.
The allocation or distribution of costs should be an after-the-fact accounting not based on estimates. Payroll records must reflect actual time spent on the activity or activities. Additionally, records must be certified by the employee and approved by a supervisor with firsthand knowledge of the work performed.