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VOCA Victim Assistance Formula Grant Program

Clarification of Allowable Costs for Victim Assistance Programs


OVC anticipates that it will upload the final VOCA formula victim assistance rule during the first week of July. It will become effective 30 days after publication in the Federal Register. In the interim, OVC is sending this communication to VOCA Administrators to again clarify what is allowable under the current guidelines for transitional housing and legal assistance.

Regarding legal assistance, victim assistance programs can...

The Use of VOCA Victim Assistance Program Funds for APS Intake Workers


In all states, some form of adult protective services (APS) exists to receive reports of elder abuse. Some states utilize a statewide hotline for receiving reports of elder abuse (intake), while other states maintain a system of local level intake. Intake is conducted, among other things, to determine whether victim services should be the only referral or whether a more system-delivered response is indicated (i.e...

February 2020 VOCApedia Update

The February 2020 VOCApedia update includes 25 new or updated questions and answers. OVC will continue to update this living document as we receive questions from the field.

Formula Grants

OVC administers annual Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) crime victim compensation and victim assistance formula grants to eligible states and territories. These grants are the cornerstone of support for victims throughout the Nation.

Types of Funding

OVC administers formula grants, discretionary grants, and set-asides to support crime victim services throughout the Nation.

Crime Victims Fund

OVC administers the Crime Victims Fund, a major funding source for crime victim services.

Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) Administrators

This site provides State Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) Administrators with news, answers to frequently asked questions, documents, and other resources to help them successfully manage VOCA formula assistance and compensation awards.

Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) Administrators

This resource provides information and guidance to help improve the management of VOCA funds. This section of the OVC website features the latest news for VOCA Administrators, along with answers to frequently asked questions, documents, and other resources to help successfully manage VOCA formula assistance and compensation awards.

Victims of Crime Act (VOCA)-Funded Elder Abuse Programs

In August of 2016, a new VOCA Rule clarified and expanded states’ allowable uses of VOCA victim assistance funding. This rule paved the way for states to identify additional ways to support all victims of crime, including victims of elder abuse. This OVC page highlights examples of VOCA-funded elder abuse programs and the VOCA offices that fund them.

Office for Victims of Crime: Antiterrorism and Emergency Assistance Program (AEAP)

OVC manages AEAP, which offers five funding streams to provide timely relief to communities affected by domestic terrorism and criminal mass violence for immediate and ongoing victim assistance services in the form of grants. Qualifying applicants include state victim assistance and compensation programs, public agencies, federally recognized Indian tribal governments, and more.