U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government, Department of Justice.

Victim assistance

Help in Your State: Virginia

Help in Your State: Virginia

View contact information for the Virginia Victim Assistance and Victim Compensation programs below.

Victim Assistance Program

Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services
Phone: 804-786-7802

Victim Compensation Program

Virginia Workers Compensation Commission
Virginia Victims Fund
Phone: 800-552-4007

Additional Resources

Additional resources and information for victims of sexual assault, domestic violence, and elder abuse is available on these U.S. Department of Justice...

Help in Your State: Hawaii

Help in Your State: Hawaii

View contact information for the Hawaii Victim Assistance and Victim Compensation programs below.

Victim Assistance Program

Hawaii Department of the Attorney General
Phone: 808-586-1054

Victim Compensation Program

Hawaii Department of Public Safety
Phone: 808-587-1143

Additional Resources

Additional resources and information for victims of sexual assault, domestic violence, and elder abuse is available on these U.S. Department of Justice websites—

  • the...

Help in Your State: Nevada

Help in Your State: Nevada

View contact information for the Nevada Victim Assistance and Victim Compensation programs below.

Victim Assistance Program

Nevada Department of Health and Human Services
Division of Child and Family Services
Phone: 702-486-2740

Victim Compensation Program

Nevada Department of Health and Human Services
Division of Child and Family Services
Phone: 702-486-2740

Additional Resources

Additional resources and information for victims of sexual assault...

Help in Your State: Tennessee

Help in Your State: Tennessee

View contact information for the Tennessee Victim Assistance and Victim Compensation programs below.

Victim Assistance Program

Tennessee Department of Finance & Administration
Office of Criminal Justice Programs
Phone: 615-770-3986

Victim Compensation Program

Tennessee Department of Treasury
Division of Claims and Risk Management
Phone: 615-741-2734

Additional Resources

Additional resources and information for victims of sexual assault, domestic violence, and elder abuse...

The OVC Center for VOCA Administrators Introduction Video

September 2021

The OVC Center for VOCA Administrators (The OVC VOCA Center) provides peer-to-peer technical assistance to meet the needs of VOCA Administrators. The OVC VOCA Center will broaden victim services to historically underserved communities, provide grant and financial management training and technical assistance, offer learning opportunities designed specifically for VOCA Administrators, and foster expanded accessibility and sustainability of VOCA programs.

New Center Offers Support to VOCA Administrators

OVC Director Kristina Rose announces the launch of the OVC Center for VOCA Administrators to help build the capacity of VOCA Administrators to manage VOCA formula victim assistance and victim compensation funds.

OVC Center for VOCA Administrators Launch: Remarks From OVC Director Kristina Rose

September 2021

In this video, OVC Director Kristina Rose announces the launch of the OVC Center for VOCA Administrators. The Center provides technical support to strengthen the capacity of VOCA Administrators to administer VOCA formula victim assistance and victim compensation funds—the cornerstone of support for victims throughout the Nation. Visit the OVC Center for VOCA Administrators website.

President Biden Signs the VOCA Fix to Sustain the Crime Victims Fund Act of 2021

On Thursday, July 22, 2021, Amy L. Solomon, Acting Assistant Attorney General, Office of Justice Programs, and Kristina Rose, Director, Office for Victims of Crime, joined President Biden and Vice President Harris at the signing of the VOCA Fix to Sustain the Crime Victims Fund Act of 2021 in a historic effort to stabilize the Crime Victims Fund.

OVC FY 2021 VOCA Victim Assistance Formula Grant

Closing Date
OVC will award each eligible state and territory victim assistance program an annual grant to support eligible crime victim assistance programs in that state or territory. Eligible crime victim assistance programs are those that are “operated by a public agency or nonprofit organization, or a combination of such agencies or organizations or of both such agencies and organizations, and provide services to victims of crime,”...

OVC FY 2021 Building State Technology Capacity

Closing Date
OVC is seeking applications from Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) Formula Assistance and Compensation Program State Administering Agencies to implement statewide technology programs to enhance victims’ access to services, foster innovation and efficiency in the provision of services, improve the quality of services, and improve the accessibility and responsiveness of victim service organizations.

Formula Grants: VOCA Compensation and Assistance

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 throughout the Nation. These formula grants account for approximately 95 percent of the VOCA funds that OVC disburses each year.

  • The VOCA Victim Compensation Grant Program provides funding to supplement state compensation programs that reimburse victims...

Innovative Practices

Innovative Practices

According to the National Crime Victimization Survey, only 8 percent of victims of violent crimes received help from a victim service agency in 2019—a decline of 11 percent from 2018. To improve this reality, the victim services field must diversify and expand existing strategies for providing victim assistance and create vital links to other fields that come into contact with victims of crime...

Elder Abuse and Financial Exploitation

Elder Abuse and Financial Exploitation

Older adults are especially vulnerable to violent crime, neglect, and exploitation, including financial fraud. The effects of these crimes can be devastating, and older adults may be targeted at rates that outpace the services available to help the growing number of victims. Not surprisingly, elder abuse results in a wide range of negative health impacts, including the increased likelihood of...

Antiterrorism Emergency Reserve

Antiterrorism Emergency Reserve

Following the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing, Congress amended VOCA to authorize OVC to allocate up to $50 million per year from the Crime Victims Fund to establish the Antiterrorism Emergency Reserve (Reserve). The Reserve provides help primarily through funding for immediate and direct services for victims of terrorism and criminal mass violence within the United States and abroad, supplemental funding provided directly...

VOCA Compensation Highlights

VOCA Compensation Highlights

OVC’s VOCA Compensation Formula Grant Program reimburses victims for financial losses resulting from their victimization. OVC disburses these funds to supplement state programs that provide financial assistance and reimbursement to victims for crime-related expenses, including medical and dental care, counseling, funeral and burial expenses, and lost wages. Compensation programs may also reimburse victims for other types of expenses related to their victimization...

Serving Victims Everywhere

Serving Victims Everywhere

OVC believes that crime victims should have access to the evidence-based services and support they need to begin their physical, emotional, and financial recovery. However, OVC recognizes that there are serious challenges to achieving this goal. Strengthening connections across allied fields to expand the availability and quality of services that impact a victim’s healing are among these challenges.

Center for Victim Research...

2021 Report to the Nation

Introduction

The Office for Victims of Crime (OVC) is pleased to present this report of activities during fiscal years (FY) 2019 and 2020. Every year, OVC supports millions of victims of crime. The core of this support is the Crime Victims Fund (the Fund), which is financed not by tax dollars, but by fines, bond forfeitures, and penalties from offenders in federal cases. In FY...

Victims of the Addiction Crisis

Victims of the Addiction Crisis

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Adverse Childhood Experiences Study, parental substance abuse is one adverse childhood experience associated with a range of negative outcomes later in life. Children and youth who are exposed to parental substance abuse may be at greater risk for crime victimization during their lifetimes, including child abuse and neglect, human trafficking, intimate...

2019 Report to the Nation

Introduction

The Office for Victims of Crime (OVC) is pleased to present this report of activities during fiscal years (FY) 2017 and 2018. Every year, OVC supports millions of victims of crime as they heal from their victimization and rebuild their lives. The core of this support is the Crime Victims Fund (the Fund), which is financed by fines, bond forfeitures, and penalties stemming from...

Capacity-Building Overview

Capacity-Building Overview

OVC programming in FYs 2019 and 2020 focused on building capacity in a number of key areas. OVC supported many programs to combat human trafficking and help survivors of this terrible crime; and to plan for, respond to, and serve victims of acts of terrorism and mass violence. OVC also strengthened its support for a wide range of law enforcement organizations and their...