Formula Grants: VOCA Compensation and Assistance

OVC administers two Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) formula grant programs that support crime victim compensation and assistance—the foundation of support for victims nationwide. These formula grants to states account for approximately 95 percent of the VOCA funds that OVC disburses each year. VOCA funding also supports victim-witness coordinators in U.S. Attorneys’ Offices, victim specialists with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Federal Victim Notification System. OVC also provides funding to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, as mandated by the Children’s Justice Act. Additionally, OVC’s Children’s Justice Act Partnerships for Indian Communities program provides comprehensive and coordinated multidisciplinary responses to child abuse victims and their families in ways that are trauma-informed and culturally competent. OVC also awards discretionary grants to meet emerging needs and close gaps in existing services.

VOCA Compensation Statistics

• In FYs 2015 and 2016, VOCA state compensation payments to 468,729 victims throughout the Nation totaled $758,874,588 (see exhibit 3).
• The majority of victims who received reimbursement for crime-related expenses were victims of assault (175,299 claims paid), victims of child abuse, including sexual and physical abuse (126,702 claims paid), or victims of sexual assault (75,696) (see exhibit 3).
• Costs related to medical and dental care accounted for 38 percent of the total expenses reimbursed, followed by costs associated with economic support (13 percent) and funeral and burial expenses (13 percent) (see exhibit 4).
• Victims of domestic assault accounted for more than 43 percent of the total assault victim claims that were reimbursed during FYs 2015 and 2016 (see exhibit 3).
• The overall average compensation per claim during the reporting period was approximately $1,619, with homicide payouts averaging the most, at $3,217 per claim (see exhibit 3).

VOCA Assistance Statistics

• In FYs 2015 and 2016, a total of 11,529,057 crime victims throughout the Nation benefited from VOCA-funded assistance (see exhibit 5).
• Victims of domestic violence, who numbered 4,203,266, accounted for 36 percent of the victims who received assistance during the reporting period (exhibit 5).
• More than 1.5 million victims of child physical or sexual abuse received assistance (accounting for 14 percent of crime victims)—second only to victims of domestic violence (see exhibit 5).
• Other types of crimes that resulted in a marked percentage of victims receiving assistance in FYs 2015 and 2016 included assault (7 percent), adult sexual assault (5 percent), and robbery (3 percent) (see exhibit 5).
• In FY 2016, more than half of all victims served (57 percent) received information and referrals. Most frequent among these services provided were information about victims’ rights and how to obtain notifications about justice system actions (see exhibit 6).
• In 2016, VOCA assistance grants supported 45,687,411 specific services to 7,909,079 victims of crime. Many individuals need more than one type of assistance in the aftermath of victimization. During the reporting period, each victim received an average of 5.78 services (see exhibit 6).