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Victim services

Thank You for Joining Us for National Crime Victims' Rights Week 2020: A Message from the Director of the Office for Victims of Crime

Dear Colleague,

Thank you for joining us this week as we commemorate National Crime Victims' Rights Week (NCVRW) and spread awareness of victims' rights, protections, and services.

I'm pleased to announce that the National Crime Victims' Service Awards Ceremony will be Friday, October 2, 2020. During the ceremony, OVC will present awards recognizing individuals and organizations from across the nation for their outstanding service on...

2020 National Crime Victims' Rights Week Message from the OVC Director

Dear Colleague,

Each April, we pause to celebrate the many advances in crime victim support in our nation: victim engagement in the criminal justice system, increasing availability of services, and recognition of rights for all victims and survivors. We also seek to ensure justice for those victims whose voices have yet to be heard.

At the end of March, I was sworn in as the...

Remarks as Prepared for Delivery by OVC Director Jessica E. Hart During a Webinar Hosted by the National Organization for Victim Assistance (NOVA)

Good afternoon! Thank you to the wonderful people at NOVA who worked hard to make today's webinar happen. And a special thanks to Claire Selib for offering me the opportunity to introduce myself to the NOVA community.

I was appointed the Director of OVC in late March, in the midst of the COVID spread, so this has been an unusual time to join OVC. But...

Remarks as Prepared for Delivery by OVC Director Jessica E. Hart During a Webinar Hosted by the Ohio Attorney General's Office

Good morning! Thank you, Attorney General Yost, and all the staff in your office who worked hard to make today's webinar happen. I sincerely appreciate the opportunity to introduce myself and share a bit about the Office for Victims of Crime.

As previously mentioned, I was appointed the Director of OVC, a component of the Office of Justice Programs at the Department of Justice, in...

World Elder Abuse Awareness Day Message from OVC Director Jessica Hart

Today is the fifteenth anniversary of World Elder Abuse Awareness Day. In the shadow of a pandemic that has disproportionately affected senior populations, we come together to raise awareness about elder abuse, neglect, and exploitation.

For too long elder abuse—a term that encompasses physical abuse, financial fraud, scams and exploitation, caregiver neglect and abandonment, psychological abuse, and sexual abuse—was a hidden epidemic. But as the...

Recursos en Español

Aquí encontrarán vínculos a documentos, materiales educativos, y otros sitios web en español para ayudar a víctimas del delito y a quienes proveen servicios para víctimas del delito.

On-Demand Events

Sign up for on-demand, online trainings designed to educate victim service providers and allied professionals about serving victims of crime. 

June 2019 Featured Resources

World Elder Abuse Awareness Day

World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, recognized annually on June 15, is a call-to-action for individuals, organizations, and communities to raise awareness about elder abuse, neglect, and financial exploitation.

In commemoration of World Elder Abuse Day, OVC is pleased to highlight a forthcoming video series, Lifting Up Voices, on elder abuse that will demonstrate the impact of elder abuse on...

July 2019 Featured Resources

Visit the Updated OVC TTAC Website

OVC is excited to announce the launch of the newly updated OVC Training and Technical Assistance Center (OVC TTAC) website. Visit www.ovcttac.gov to see the new design and watch the welcome video for an overview of OVC TTAC.

Explore the OVC TTAC website to learn about the many ways OVC TTAC can help you build your capacity to serve...

August 2019 Featured Resources

Model Standards Seek to Enhance Crime Victim Services

OVC's Achieving Excellence: Model Standards for Serving Victims & Survivors of Crime e-publication seeks to enhance victim service providers' competency and capacity to provide ethical, high-quality responses to crime victims. These model standards also seek to meet the demands facing the field today. The e-publication includes three sets of standards:

October 2019 Featured Resources

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month

President Trump proclaimed that October is National Domestic Violence Awareness Month. In his proclamation, the President states "We strive to eliminate domestic violence in all its horrific forms in order to sustain the hope of a better life for victims and to foster safer homes and relationships for all Americans."

The proclamation also highlights "in fiscal years 2018...

Attend a Tribal Consultation on Tribal Set-Aside Funding from the Crime Victims Fund


OVC invites Tribal leaders, representatives, and stakeholders to participate in a Tribal Consultation on Tribal Set-Aside Funding from the Crime Victims Fund. Attendees will discuss tribal set-aside funding and how it can be programmed.

An in-person government to government consultation will be held on Wednesday, February 12, 2020, from 1:30 to 5:00 p.m., in conjunction with the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) 2020 Executive...