Justice Department Awards More Than $600 Million, Help Crime Victims

WASHINGTON, Oct. 13, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Department of Justice's Office of Justice Programs (OJP) today announced more than $600 million in formula grants to support crime victims.  This funding from the Crime Victims Fund, created by the 1984 Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) supports state and local victim assistance and compensation programs administered by OJP's Office for Victims of Crime (OVC).  

The Crime Victims Fund is unique in that it is comprised of fines, penalty assessments, and bail forfeitures collected from convicted federal criminals.  The state compensation programs reimburse victims and their families directly for expenses related to their victimization, including medical and mental health costs, and funeral and burial expenses.  The Crime Victims Fund also enables state victim assistance programs to support local efforts such as crisis intervention, emergency shelters and transportation, counseling, and criminal justice system advocacy.  A list of the FY 2011 Crime Victims Fund Compensation and Assistance Allocations is available at: http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/ovc/grants/cvfa2011.html

More information about OVC, its resources for crime victims, and its funding for victim assistance and compensation programs is available at: www.ovc.gov/.

The Office of Justice Programs (OJP), headed by Assistant Attorney General Laurie O. Robinson, provides federal leadership in developing the nation's capacity to prevent and control crime, administer justice, and assist victims.  OJP has six components:  the Bureau of Justice Assistance; the Bureau of Justice Statistics; the National Institute of Justice; the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention; Office for Victims of Crime: and the Office of Sex Offender Sentencing, Monitoring, Apprehending, Registering, and Tracking.  More information about OJP can be found at www.ojp.gov.

SOURCE Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs

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