Victims of Crime Act: Crime Victims Fund Fact Sheet.

Office for Victims of Crime Fact Sheet
Victims of Crime Act
Crime Victims Fund

The Crime Victims Fund (Fund) was authorized by the
Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) of 1984.  Each year,
millions of dollars are deposited into this Fund
from criminal fines, forfeited bail bonds, penalty
fees, and special assessments collected by the U.S.
Attorneys Offices, the U.S. Courts, and the Bureau
of Prisons.  These dollars come from offenders
convicted of Federal crimes.not from taxpayers.  

The Department of Justice is responsible for
prosecuting criminals and for collecting the
payment of fines.  The Administrative Office of the
U.S. Courts is responsible for providing financial
information on the Fund deposits, which are held by
the U.S. Treasury. Most of the money is
administered by the Office for Victims of Crime
(OVC) and distributed by them to fund victim
assistance and compensation programs.

How many dollars have been deposited into the Fund?

When VOCA was enacted in 1984, the Fund ceiling was
set at $100 million. Amendments to VOCA in 1986,
1988, and 1990 raised the ceiling to $110, $125,
and $150 million, respectively. In 1992, VOCA was
amended again, and the ceiling was removed.  
Although deposits fluctuate from year to year, from
1985 through 1994, over $1.2 billion has been
deposited into the Fund.

How are Fund deposits disbursed? 

The first $6.2 million deposited in the Fund during
fiscal years 1992 through 1995, and $3.2 million
thereafter, is available to the Administrative
Office of U.S. Courts to establish a centralized,
automated Fine Center.  The Fine Center was
established to receive all fines and assessments,
compute interest and penalties, send monthly
statements to debtors, prepare and mail delinquency
and default notices for the U.S. Department of
Justice, and provide statistical information on the
deposits received in the Fund.  

The next $10 million is used to improve the
investigation and prosecution of child abuse cases.
The $10 million is split between the U.S.
Department of Health and Human Services ($8.5
million) and OVC ($1.5 million.) The portion
administered by OVC is used exclusively to help
Native Americans improve the investigation and
prosecution of child abuse cases, particularly
child sexual abuse.
The remaining Fund deposits are distributed in the
following ways: 48.5 percent to State compensation
programs; 48.5 percent to State assistance program;
and 3 percent for training and other assistance to
expand and improve the delivery of services to
crime victims, including victims of Federal crimes. 




VICTIM COMPENSATION

What is crime victim compensation?

Crime victim compensation is a direct payment to,
or on behalf of, a crime victim for crime-related
expenses such as unpaid medical bills, mental
health counseling, funeral costs, and lost wages.
Other compensable costs may include such expenses
as eyeglasses or other corrective lenses, dental
services and devices, prosthetic devices, and crime
scene cleanup.

What is a crime victim compensation program?

Every State administers a crime victim compensation
program through a central agency that may or may
not have branch offices. These programs provide
assistance to 
victims of both Federal and State crimes.
Although each State compensation program is
administered independently, most programs have
similar eligibility requirements and offer a
comparable range of benefits. Maximum awards
generally range between $10,000 and $25,000.

The typical State compensation program requires
victims to report crimes to police within 3 days
and to file claims within a fixed period of time.
If other collateral sources of help are available,
such as private insurance, compensation is paid
only to the extent that the collateral resource
does not cover the loss.

How can a State compensation program receive a VOCA
grant?

A State is eligible to receive a VOCA compensation
grant if it meets the criteria set forth in VOCA
and OVC.s Program Guidelines. Examples of such
criteria include providing services for Federal
crime victims and assisting victims who are
victimized within the State when the victim resides
in another State.

Which States receive VOCA compensation grants?

In FY 1995, 48 States, the District of Columbia,
and the U.S. Virgin Islands received VOCA
compensation grants. The State of Maine will be
eligible to receive grants in FY 1996. The State of
Nevada does not participate.

How are VOCA compensation grants determined?

Each eligible State receives a VOCA compensation
grant that is equal to 40 percent of the amount of
compensation payments made by the State in a
previous fiscal year.  

VICTIM ASSISTANCE

What is victim assistance?

Victim assistance includes services such as crisis
intervention, counseling, emergency transportation
to court, temporary housing, and criminal justice
support and advocacy.  Throughout the Nation, there
are over 8,000 organizations that provide these and
other services to crime victims. Nearly 3,000 of
those organizations receive some VOCA funds.

How can a State receive a VOCA victim assistance
grant?

All States, the District of Columbia, the Virgin
Islands, Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, and
Palau (hereinafter referred to as States) are
eligible to receive a VOCA victim assistance grant.
Each State (except Palau) receives a base amount of
$200,000. The remainder of the Fund that is
available for VOCA assistance grants is then
distributed according to population data.
Upon receiving the VOCA grant, each State awards
these funds to public and nonprofit organizations
to provide services to victims of crime.

How do States determine which organizations will
receive VOCA grants?

Each State has discretion to determine which
organizations will receive funding based upon the
VOCA victim assistance guidelines and the needs of
crime victims within the State.
However, VOCA assistance funds can only be used for
direct services to crime victims.  Services such as
offender rehabilitation, criminal justice
improvements, and crime prevention activities
cannot be supported with VOCA assistance funds.

DISCRETIONARY FUNDS

How are the training and technical assistance
discretionary funds used?

The purpose of the discretionary grant program is
to improve and enhance the availability of victim
services.  

Each year, the Director of OVC develops a program
plan to assist professionals and volunteers to
better serve crime victims. The program plan
identifies a number of specific topic areas to be
funded on a competitive basis.  

At least half of all discretionary grant funds are
dedicated to improving the response to Federal
crime victims. Initiatives include training Federal
criminal justice system personnel on victims
issues, developing materials that help victims
understand their rights and available services, and
supporting programs that establish and expand
existing services for Federal crime victims.

The remaining discretionary grant funds support a
variety of nationwide initiatives such as
developing training curriculums, training victim
services and criminal justice professionals,
working to raise the awareness of victim rights and
needs throughout the country, and supporting a
national clearinghouse on victim-related issues.

For additional information on any of the activities
described above, please contact the Office for
Victims of Crime, 633 Indiana Avenue NW., Number
1352, Washington, DC 20531, (202) 307.5947.


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