Introduction
The Office for Victims of Crime (OVC) is pleased to present this report of activities during fiscal years (FY) 2021 and 2022. Every year, OVC supports millions of victims of crime. The core of this support is the Crime Victims Fund (CVF), which is financed not by tax dollars, but by fines, bond forfeitures, and penalties from persons convicted in federal cases. In FY 2021, the appropriation cap on the Fund was $2 billion, and in FY 2022, the appropriation cap was increased to $2.6 billion.
In FY 2021, OVC awarded more than $1.2 billion to state victim assistance and compensation programs, and in FY 2022, OVC awarded $1.6 billion to these same programs. State victim assistance programs—through formula grants awarded to State Administrating Agencies, that then award subgrants directly to local service providers—provide help for individuals, families, and communities recovering from both the immediate and prolonged effects of victimization. These subgrants support critical services such as crisis counseling, telephone and onsite information and referrals, criminal justice support and advocacy, emergency shelter, therapy, and more. States also use assistance funds to develop new initiatives that address emerging needs and gaps in services for individuals and local communities.
State victim compensation programs provide financial assistance and reimbursement to victims for crime-related out-of-pocket expenses, including medical and dental care, counseling, funeral and burial costs, and lost wages and income.
In addition to victim assistance and compensation, OVC supports a variety of key initiatives throughout the Nation. In this report, you will learn about OVC’s use of funding to provide direct services; build capacity in the victim services field; support research and evaluation; spur innovation; increase access, options, and equity; and help all crime survivors find their justice.
In FYs 2021 and 2022, victim service providers throughout the Nation dedicated themselves to helping those who need support and advocacy. This report provides descriptions and vignettes of some of OVC’s key victim services programs—highlighting their successes, their challenges, and their efforts to help victims of crime rebuild their lives.
Performance Measure Data
Unless otherwise noted, the data throughout the report reflect FY 2021 and 2022 performance measure data as entered by VOCA victim assistance, VOCA victim compensation, and discretionary grantees into the OVC Performance Measurement Tool. Grantees enter data on a quarterly basis for their activities under their award or subaward. The data are self-reported. The data were refreshed as of December 2022.