Victims of Crime Act Grant
The Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) of 1984 was passed by Congress to assist states in providing high quality services that are directly related to the emotional healing and recovery of crime victims. The U.S. Department of Justice, Office for Victims of Crime (OVC), administers these funds at the federal level, and the Missouri Department of Public Safety administers the VOCA funds at the state level. The primary purpose of these grants is to support the provision of direct services to victims of crime throughout the nation, to assist victims of crime as soon as possible in order to reduce the severity of the psychological and emotional consequences of the victimization, and to demonstrate on-going support for the victim in coping with the impact of the victimization.
Losses not covered by the Program include, but are not limited to: stolen or damaged property; pain and suffering; crime scene clean-up; relocation; house payments; rent; utilities; food and/or clothing costs; tuition reimbursement or monetary losses from investment schemes.
Source of Funds
The Victims of Crime Act is funded through fines, penalties, and forfeitures collected from persons convicted of offenses against the United States.Allocation of Funds
At least ten percent (10%) of total funds distributed must be allocated to each of the three priority categories – victims of sexual assault, domestic violence, and child abuse – and at least ten (10%) to programs that serve victims determined by the state to have been previously underserved.
Match Requirements
VOCA recipients must provide 20% of the total project cost in cash or in-kind match.orem
Organization Eligibility Requirements
- Organizations must be operated by a public or nonprofit organization, or a combination of such organizations, and provide services to crime victims.
- Agencies must demonstrate a record of providing effective services to crime victims.
- New programs must demonstrate that 35% of their financial support comes from non-federal and non-state sources.
- Subrecipient organizations must use volunteers in the provision of services.
- Promote, within the community, coordinated public and private efforts to aid crime victims.
- Assist victims in seeking crime victim compensation benefits.
- Comply with the applicable provisions of VOCA, the Program Guidelines, and the requirements of the OJP Financial Guide.
- Maintain statutorily required civil rights statistics on victims.
- Abide by any additional eligibility or service criteria as established by the Missouri Department of Public Safety.
- Provide services to victims of federal crimes.
- Provide services to crime victims, at no charge, through the VOCA-funded project.
- Maintain confidentiality of client-counselor information, as required by state and federal law.