CJC VICTIMS

Victims of Crime Act

Victims of Crime Act Formula (VOCA) authorized in 1984, is a formula Victim Assistance Grant Program. The Victim Assistance component was established to support the provision of direct services to innocent victims of violent crime and to provide that assistance 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. Services are defines as those efforts that:

• Respond to the emotional and physical needs of crime victims
• Assist primary and secondary victims of crime to stabilize their lives after victimization
• Assist victims to understand and participate in the criminal justice system
• Provide victims of crime with a measure of safety and security

Each state grantee receives a base amount of $500,000.00. Remaining funds are distributed based upon the State's population in relation to other States.

For the purpose of the VOCA Crime Victim Assistance Grant Program, a crime victim is a person who has suffered physical, sexual, financial, or emotional harm as a result of the commission of a crime.

VOCA funds support programs that provide direct services to victims of violent crimes with a focus on victims in the following categories:

• Sexual Assault
• Child Abuse
• Domestic Violence
• Previously underserved victims may include, but not limited to, victims of federal crime; survivors of homicide; victims of assault; robbery; gang violence; hate and bias crimes; intoxicated drivers; bank robbery; economic exploitation & fraud; and elder abuse.

These funds are administered through the U.S. Department of Justice, Office for Victims of Crime. At the State level, the Criminal Justice Council established the Victims Advisory Committee in 1992 to assist in the distribution of these funds.

Family Violence Prevention and Services Act

The Family Violence Prevention and Services Grant Program (authorized by Title III of the Child Abuse Amendments of 1984: The Family Violence Prevention and Services Act, 1986) was established to assist states in supporting the establishment, maintenance, and expansion of programs and projects to prevent incidents of family violence and provide immediate shelter and related assistance for victims of family violence and their dependents.

Family Violence Prevention and Services funds are granted to States based on a population formula. Each State is allotted the base amount of $600,000.00 with the remaining funds allotted in an amount that bears the same ratio to the remaining funds as the population of the State has to the population to all other States.

For the purpose of this program, family violence is defined as any act or threatened act of violence, including any forceful detention of an individual, which (a) results or threatens to result in physical injury and (b) is committed by a person against another individual (including an elderly person) to whom such person is or was related by blood or marriage or otherwise legally related or with whom such person is or was lawfully residing.

Services and activities that can be provided/conducted with the funds include:

• Shelter
• Prevention Activities
• Outreach
• Counseling
• Transportation
• Legal Advocacy
• Children Support Services

These funds awarded to Delaware support five established domestic violence shelters. The shelter based programs provide comprehensive services including, but not limited to, child therapy; counseling; emergency assistance; emergency housing; prevention; transitional services; job training and search assistance; G.E.D. preparation; community based services; collaboration between Child Protective Services and domestic violence shelters. One shelter, operated by bilingual staff, provides services to Latino domestic violence victims.

These funds are administered through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Community Services. At the State level, the Criminal Justice Council's Family Violence Prevention and Services Committee assists in the distribution of these funds.

Violence Against Women Act

The Violence Against Women Act grant program provides assistance to states for the development and strengthening of effective law enforcement and prosecution strategies and victim services in cases involving violence against women.Delaware's allocation for FY 05 is $838,000. The Act requires that twent-five percent of the funds be allocated to each of three categories: prosecution, law enforcement, and victim services.The remaining twenty-five percent is left to the discretion of the state. These funds are administered through the U.S. Department of Justice,Violence Against Women Grants Office.The Violence Against Women Act Implementation Committee oversees the distribution of these funds.All funding recommendations are approved by both the Criminal Justice Council and the State Domestic Violence Coordinating Council.

• VAWA Basic Facts Sheet
• Healthy Delaware 2010 - Domestic Violence
• 2007 Stop Violence Against Women Implementation Plan

The State of Delaware has also received discretionary money from the Violence Against Women Grants Office.These discretionary funds are not administered by the Criminal Justice Council.For more information on these programs, click on the program title below to see a program brief:

• Grants to Encourage Arrest Policies
• Civil Legal Assistance Project
• Transitional Housing Assistance Grant Program

Crime Victims Service Providers Make Connections. Share Ideas. Change Lives.

The Office for Victims of Crime (OVC) has created a new Web forum that links crime victim service providers to their colleagues from other states. OVC's Web forum allows you to tap into a national network of people facing the same challenges and experiences that you are. It's the perfect place for providers to gain peer insight and support related to best practices in victim services. Your colleagues can be great sources for solutions that can help the crime victims you serve. Now, with OVC, you can connect with victim service providers in other states without leaving your office. Start making the connections that can change lives. Click on the link below to begin exchanging information and ideas.

If you have any questions please contact Maureen Monagle by phone: 302-577-8442 or (Maureen.Monagle@state.de.us)

Related Links

• The National Organization for Victim Assistance
• The National Center for Victims of Crime
• The National Committee to Prevent Child Abuse
• Violence Against Women in the United States