Recovery Act — OVC FY 09 VOCA Formula
Grant Program Funding

American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (“Recovery Act”) of 2009

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (“Recovery Act”) of 2009, was signed into law by the President on February 17, 2009. The law included a direct appropriation of $100 million in grant funding to be administered by the Office for Victims of Crime (OVC). Of the total amount of this appropriation, 95 percent ($95 million) will be distributed among eligible state VOCA crime victim compensation and victim assistance administering agencies.

OVC has created this Web page to assist state VOCA crime victim compensation and victim assistance administering agencies in applying for available formula funding under the Act. This page will also be used to provide technical assistance support to all state VOCA administering agencies, as needed, to ensure each state's full compliance with the applicable provisions of the Act.

Applying for Formula Grants under the Recovery Act

VOCA Eligibility. OVC will only accept applications from those state agencies designated by the Governor to administer the state VOCA crime victim compensation and victim assistance programs.

Fund Allocation. Click here to learn the amount of formula funding that has been designated for your state agency’s VOCA crime victim compensation and/or victim assistance program.

Online Submission. Applications may only be submitted online through the Office of Justice Programs (OJP), Grants Management System (GMS). For step-by-step instructions on submitting your application in GMS, please visit OJP’s online GMS Computer-Based Training Module.

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Crime Victim Compensation Grants

FY 09 Recovery Act–Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) Victim Compensation Formula Grant Program (PDF 143 kb)—Each eligible state victim compensation program will be awarded a Recovery Act - VOCA Victim Compensation Formula Grant to support the provision of crucial financial assistance to victims of crime. Each state, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and any other possession or territory of the United States that has an established crime victim compensation program is eligible to receive a grant. Funds  will be administered by OVC under the applicable provisions of VOCA, 42 U.S.C. 10602(a), the Final Program Guidelines for the VOCA Crime Victim Compensation Formula Grant Program, and the applicable provisions of the American Recovery and Restoration Act of 2009, H.R. 1. All applicants were encouraged to register with GMS by March 13, 2009 and to apply well in advance of the March 20, 2009 deadline. For additional information on the Office of Justice Programs’ Recovery Act Grant Programs, please visit http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/recovery/.

Click here for Victim Compensation Formula Grant Program solicitation (PDF 143 kb).

Click here for guidance on the application process (PDF 77 kb) for eligible state VOCA crime victim compensation programs.

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Crime Victim Assistance Grants

FY 09 Recovery Act – Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) Victim Assistance Formula Grant Program (PDF 194 kb)—Each eligible state victim assistance program will be awarded a Recovery Act - VOCA Victim Assistance Formula Grant to support the provision of services to victims of crime. Services are defined as those efforts that (1) respond to the emotional and physical needs of crime victims; (2) assist primary and secondary victims of crime to stabilize their lives after a victimization; (3) assist victims to understand and participate in the criminal justice system; and (4) provide victims of crime with a measure of safety and security such as boarding up broken windows and replacing and repairing locks. Each state, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, American Samoa, Guam, and Northern Mariana Islands is eligible to receive a grant. Funds will be administered by OVC under the applicable provisions of VOCA, 42 U.S.C. 10603(a), the Final Program Guidelines for the VOCA Crime Victim Assistance Formula Grant Program, and the applicable provisions of the American Recovery and Restoration Act of 2009, H.R. 1. All applicants were encouraged to register with GMS by March 13, 2009 and to apply well in advance of the March 20, 2009 deadline. For additional information on the Office of Justice Programs’ Recovery Act Grant Programs, please visit http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/recovery/.

Click here for Victim Assistance Formula Grant Program solicitation (PDF 194 kb).

Click here for guidance on the application process (PDF 98 kb) for eligible state VOCA crime victim assistance programs.

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Technical Assistance

Information to be posted in the future, as needed.

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