U.S. flag

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

Formula Grants (VOCA Compensation Programs and VOCA Assistance Programs)

U.S. Department of Justice Releases Strategic Plan


On Friday, July 1, 2022, Attorney General Merrick B. Garland announced the release of the Department of Justice: FYs 2022–2026 Strategic Plan.

The goals of the Strategic Plan are:

  1. Uphold the Rule of Law
  2. Keep Our Country Safe
  3. Protect Civil Rights
  4. Ensure Economic Opportunity and Fairness for All
  5. Administer Just Court and Correctional Systems

In his message, Attorney General Garland states,

“this strategic plan provides...

Funding & Awards

OVC administers two Victims of Crime Act formula grant programs that support crime victim compensation and assistance—the cornerstone of support for victims throughout the Nation. 

Additionally, OVC is charged by Congress with administering set-aside funds from the Crime Victims Fund for a Tribal Victim Services Set-Aside program which provide support to Tribal communities to enhance services for victims of crime.

OVC also administers discretionary grants...

FY 2022 VOCA Assistance and Compensation Solicitations and Allocation Charts Released

April 29, 2022

Apply for the FY 2022 Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) Assistance and Compensation formula solicitations. Applications for both solicitations are due by Thursday, June 30, 2022.

Applicants should carefully review the eligibility information in these solicitations.

OVC FY 2022 VOCA Victim Assistance Formula Grant

OVC will award each eligible state and territory victim assistance program an annual grant to support eligible crime victim...

OVC FY 2022 VOCA Victim Compensation Formula Grant

Closing Date
Grants.gov Deadline
Application JustGrants Deadline
OVC will award each eligible state victim compensation program an annual grant equal to 75 percent of the amount the program awarded in state-funded victim compensation payments during the fiscal year 2 years prior to the present fiscal year, other than amounts awarded for property damage.

OVC FY 2022 VOCA Victim Assistance Formula Grant

Closing Date
Grants.gov Deadline
Application JustGrants Deadline
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. All states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, American Samoa, Guam, and the Northern Mariana Islands are eligible to receive an annual VOCA victim assistance formula grant. Applicants must meet the eligibility requirements specified in...

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.

FY 2021 VOCA Assistance and Compensation Solicitations and Allocation Charts

June 1, 2021

The Office of Justice Programs has released the FY 2021 VOCA Victim Assistance and Victim Compensation allocation charts:

OVC Formula Chart: 2021 Crime Victims Fund Allocation – Assistance

OVC Formula Chart: 2021 Crime Victims Fund Allocation – Compensation

Refer to these allocation charts when applying for the FY 2021 Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) Assistance and Compensation formula solicitations. Applications for both solicitations are due by Monday...

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 VOCA Victim Compensation Formula Grant

Closing Date
OVC will award each eligible state victim compensation program an annual grant equal to 60 percent of the amount the program awarded in state-funded victim compensation payments during the fiscal year 2 years prior to the present fiscal year, other than amounts awarded for property damage. Applicants must be State victim compensation programs that are eligible to administer VOCA Victim Compensation grants.

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...

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...

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...

VOCA Assistance Highlights

VOCA Assistance Highlights

OVC’s VOCA Assistance Formula Grant Program supports thousands of victim assistance programs throughout the Nation annually. OVC’s funding of these programs—through subgrants to state agencies and local service providers—provides help for individuals, families, and communities recovering from both the immediate and prolonged effects of victimization.

VOCA assistance supports crisis counseling, telephone and onsite information and referrals, criminal justice support and advocacy, emergency...

Public Awareness

Public Awareness

National Crime Victims’ Rights Week

In April 2020, OVC sponsored the annual commemoration of National Crime Victims’ Rights Week (NCVRW). The theme—Seek Justice. Ensure Victims’ Rights. Inspire Hope—recognized that education on crime victims’ rights is key to ensuring that all participants in the criminal justice process acknowledge and support those rights. The theme also invited us to celebrate the individuals and...