Spotlight on Office for Victims of Crime

April 2008

The Office of Justice Programs’ Office for Victims of Crime (OVC) works throughout the year on programs that benefit victims of crime.

In Fiscal Year 2007, OVC distributed more than $370 million to the states through Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) victim assistance grants and more than $165 million to the states through VOCA compensation grants. Both the victim assistance grants and the victim compensation awards are funded by the Crime Victims Fund, which is derived from fines, penalty assessments, and bail forfeitures collected from convicted federal criminals. Victim compensation programs provide reimbursement to, or on behalf of, crime victims for crime-related expenses such as medical costs, mental health counseling, funeral and burial costs, and lost wages or loss of support. State victim assistance programs fund local victim assistance services such as crisis intervention, counseling, emergency shelter, and criminal justice system advocacy.

In addition to funding state victim assistance and compensation programs, OVC trains criminal justice and allied professionals about the rights and needs of crime victims. Victim assistance professionals can log onto OVC’s Help Exchange Lessons and Practices (HELP) in Victim Services message board for latest ideas and practices in the field. In addition, OVC sponsors the National Victim Assistance Academy, an annual training conference for those who assist victims and survivors of crime.

Current funding announcements, including details about grants to enhance public awareness and outreach for victims in underserved communities, as well as awards for training, technical assistance, and demonstration projects, are available.

OVC also organizes the Department of Justice’s observance of National Crime Victims’ Rights Week, April 13-19, 2008. The theme for this year, “Justice for Victims. Justice for All,” affirms decades of effort to ensure rights, protections, and services for victims of crime. OVC has organized two prelude events in Washington, DC.

At 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, April 10, the National Observance and Candlelight Ceremony will commemorate National Crime Victims’ Rights Week and pay tribute to crime victims and survivors. Attorney General Michael B. Mukasey and Acting Assistant Attorney General Jeffrey L. Sedgwick will provide remarks at this event. The featured speaker is Dominick Dunne, accomplished author, investigative journalist, host of TruTV’s “Power, Privilege, and Justice,” and co-victim and homicide survivor of his beloved daughter, actress Dominique Dunne. The Candlelight Ceremony is free and open to the public; no registration is required.

On Friday, April 11, 2008, at 2:30 p.m., Attorney General Michael B. Mukasey will join Acting Assistant Attorney General Jeffrey L. Sedgwick and OVC Director John W. Gillis to recognize individuals and organizations that demonstrate outstanding service in supporting victims and victim services at the National Crime Victims’ Rights Week Awards Ceremony. The Awards Ceremony is free and open to the public; however, registration is required by Monday, April 7. To register, please visit: www.ncvrw.org.