VICTIMS OF CRIME ACT (VOCA) FEDERAL GRANT
Select any of the links below to be directed to the appropriate VOCA Fund topic:
VOCA Funding Updates
Applications for VOCA Funding
History of VOCA
Purpose of VOCA Grant Funding
VOCA Fund Contacts
VOCA Subgrantees
VOCA Advisory Committee
VOCA Forms, Publications and Reports
Links to Other Helpful Resources
VOCA FUNDING UPDATES
In 2008 all states receiving VOCA funds dedicated to victim services took a significant decrease. Oregon's cut was 15.5%; approximately $750,000 less than the funds received in 2007. The good news was that the 2008 allocation was sufficient to maintain Oregon's commitment to subgrantees receiving VOCA Basic grants through the non competitive process. However, there were insufficient funds for the VOCA competitive (Project) grant process - the first time in Oregon's history.
As we look ahead to 2009, some background may be valuable. In 2000, Congress started capping annual obligations from the VOCA Fund to ensure "stable funding" in future years. Yet, despite huge balances in this non-taxpayer Fund ($1.9 billion in 2009), VOCA assistance grants have actually been cut by $87 million (22 percent) since 2006. This was because
- the cost for other VOCA programs increased;
- in 2008 Congress lowered the cap; and
- the Office of Justice Programs began charging the Crime Victims Fund for management and administrative costs.
In 2009 the goal is to restore VOCA assistance grants to the states at the 2006 levels. This amount does NOT include costs to serve more victims of more crimes or to cover increased costs of providing services, such as higher prices for utilities to heat and operate shelters, gasoline to transport clients, or postage to mail victim notification letters.
If you would like to read more about the VOCA Crime Victims fund visit the National Association of VOCA Assistance Administrators (NAVAA) website at: www.navaa.org.
CVSD has received one-time funding through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Recovery Act) under the VOCA Victim Assistance Formula Grant Program. For more detailed information, please visit the Oregon CVSD Recovery Act webpage dedicated to VOCA and VAWA Recovery Act funding.
2009 VOCA Basic Non-DV/SA Grant Application (pdf)
AMENDMENTS TO THE 2009 VOCA BASIC NON-DV/SA APPLICATION
Amendment #1: Attachment G-1 (reference) has been amended to reflect the revised training requirements for volunteers and interns.
- Revised Attachment G-1 (doc)
Amendment #2: Attachment B: Cover Page has been amended in the following ways: Section 2d. now includes an expiration date for the CCR, if available; Section 7 has been amended to read "you may choose more than one."
- Attachment B: Cover Page (doc)
2009 VOCA Project and Recovery Act Grant Application (pdf)
- Appendices A, C, D-F, H, I, L-O, U, V (doc)
- Instructions for Unlocking and Editing Word Forms (pdf)
- Appendices J, K, Q, R, S (xls)
There are no amendments to this application.
Link to 2009 Request for Non-Competitive Applications (DV/SA)
HISTORY OF VOCA
The Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) was passed by Congress and signed into law by President Reagan on October 12, 1984. This Act serves as the central source of federal financial support for direct services to victims of crime. VOCA is administered at the federal level through the U.S. Department of Justice Office for Victims of Crime which annually awards a grant to each State, the District of Columbia and U.S. Territories. Those state agencies, in turn, subgrant to organizations that provide direct services to victims of crime. The money for these grants comes from the Crime Victims Fund, a special fund into which fines, penalty assessments, bond forfeitures collected from convicted federal offenders and certain other collections are deposited; taxpayers do not fund VOCA grants.
Each state has a designated VOCA assistance agency to administer VOCA grants. While minimal federal requirements must be met, each state is given great discretion in awarding specific subgrants. The Oregon Department of Justice is the designated agency for the administration of VOCA funds in the State of Oregon. The Crime Victims' Services Division (CVSD) of the Oregon Department of Justice (DOJ) has specific program responsibility for VOCA. The VOCA Advisory Committee serves as a review body to the Department and CVSD.
PURPOSE OF VOCA GRANT FUNDING
The primary purpose of the VOCA victim assistance grant program is to extend and enhance services to victims of crime. For the purposes of this 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 grants are to support the direct provision of services to victims of crime throughout the United States. Research has shown that if victims receive early intervention, the need for long-term treatment dramatically decreases. A wide range of services are supported. They include immediate response to the emotional and physical needs (excluding medical care) of crime victims, such as crisis intervention; accompaniment to hospitals for medical examinations; hotline counseling; emergency food, clothing, transportation, and shelter; emergency legal assistance such as filing restraining orders; safety measures such as boarding-up broken windows and replacing or repairing locks; and other emergency services that are intended to restore the victim's sense of dignity and self-esteem.
Also included are services that are directed to the needs and advocacy of victims who participate in the criminal justice system. The funds must not be used to replace or supplant state and local funds that would otherwise be available for crime victim services and they cannot be used for services that public agencies are mandated by state legislation to perform. The use of volunteers is required unless a compelling reason exists to not use volunteers in the delivery of services.
VOCA FUND CONTACTS
Nancy Artmann
VOCA & Unitary Assessment Fund Coordinator
Ph: (503) 378-5647
Email: Nancy.Artmann@doj.state.or.us
Cathy Oliverio Relang
VOCA & Unitary Assessment Fund Coordinator
Ph: (503) 378-4476
Email: Cathy.L.Relang@doj.state.or.us
Map to Subgrantees monitored by each Fund Coordinator.
VOCA ADVISORY COMMITTEE
Mission Statement: The VOCA Advisory Committee advises the Oregon Crime Victims' Services Division (CVSD) regarding the allocation and administration of VOCA funds, and the monitoring of grantees; with the goal of meaningful access to services for victims/survivors of crime, throughout all counties, across all ethnicities and socio-economic groups.
Committee Members (doc)
Upcoming VOCA Advisory Committee Meetings via Teleconference- Wednesday, December 9, 2009 from 1:00 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.
For more information please call 503-378-5344 ext. 236/287
- February 17, 2009
- October 14, 2008 (doc)
- June 12, 2008 (doc)
- April 4, 2008 (doc)
VOCA FORMS, PUBLICATIONS AND REPORTS
VOCA Basic Revised Quarterly Financial Report (xls)
VOCA Basic Revised Monthly Financial Report (xls)
VOCA Project Quarterly Financial Report (xls)
VOCA Project Monthly Financial Report (xls)
VOCA Revised Financial Report Instructions (doc)
Common Outcome Measures: Programs Serving All Victims of Crime (doc)
Common Outcome Measures: Programs Serving Child Abuse Victims (doc)
Common Outcome Measures: Programs Serving Domestic and Sexual Violence Victims (doc)
(Note: Common Outcome Measures are also available in Spanish and Russian)
VOCA Semi-Annual Victim Statistics Report Form (xls)
VOCA Semi-Annual Victim Statistics Instructions/Definitions (doc)
Common Outcome Measures: Programs serving domestic and sexual violence victims - Russian Translation (doc)
Common Outcome Measures: Programs serving domestic and sexual violence victims - Spanish Translation (doc)
Reporting Requirements Across Funds (doc)
2009 VOCA Grant Management Handbook (doc)
Sample VOCA Grant Agreement (doc)
DOJ/CVSD Cultural Competency Standards (doc)
Budget Monitoring Tool (xls)
2006 - 2007 VOCA Grant Activity Report (pdf)
2007 - 2008 VOCA State Performance Report
- Major issues assisting crime victims (pdf)
- Coordinated public and private efforts within the community (pdf)
- Efforts taken to serve Federal Crime Victims (pdf)
- Notable activities to improve delivery of victims services (pdf)
- Case histories (pdf)
- Emerging issues or notable trends (pdf)
- VOCA administrative funds (pdf)
- Attachment A: Facilitated Dialogue Program Rules (pdf)
- Attachment B: Facilitated Dialogue Program Brochure (pdf)
- Attachment C: Human Trafficking Legislative Report (pdf)
- Attachment D: Expenditure Determination Coversheet (pdf)
- Attachment E: Rocklin Report (pdf)
LINKS TO OTHER HELPFUL RESOURCES
Crime Victim's Compensation Program
http://www.doj.state.or.us/crimev/comp.shtml
Oregon Crime Victim Rights Compliance Portal
http://www.oregoncrimevictimsrights.org
Attorney General's Sexual Assault Task Force
http://www.oregonsatf.org
Crime Victim Assistance Network
http://www.oregonvictims.org
Oregon Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence
http://www.ocadsv.com
Office for Victims of Crime
http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/ovc/
Additional Oregon and national resource links can be found in the 2008 VOCA Grant Management Handbook (pdf)
For more information regarding the Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) Program in Oregon, please call or write to:
Crime Victims' Services Division
1162 Court St. N.E.
Salem, OR97301-4096
Ph: (503) 378-5348
Fax: (503) 378-5738
Victim Toll Free Number 1-800-503-7983
