Frequently Asked Questions

Kristina Rose is the Director of the Office for Victims of Crime (OVC).

The 2021 National Crime Victims' Service Awards Ceremony was held on April 23.

Sign up for the National Crime Victims' Rights Week Subscription List to receive email updates about future National Crime Victims' Service Awards Ceremonies and other National Crime Victims' Rights Week updates.

Visit the OVC Gallery to view information and watch videos about award recipients from this year and previous years.

In 2022, NCVRW will be commemorated April 24–30.

Sign up for the NCVRW Subscription List to receive to receive information about future NCVRW commemorations and information about the National Crime Victims' Service Awards.

Visit the NCVRW section of our website to learn more about NCVRW.

The Tribal Resource Tool, a website funded by OVC, provides a searchable map of programs throughout the United States that offer services to American Indian/Alaskan Native crime victims. The Tribal Resource Tool includes services for—

• all ages of American Indian/Alaskan Native survivors and victims;
• all forms of victimization;
• all locations (on or off reservations, in areas that are remote, rural, urban, or suburban); and
• all needs of victims, including justice, safety, healing, and support.

The mission of OVC is to enhance the Nation's capacity to assist crime victims and to provide leadership in changing attitudes, policies, and practices to promote justice and healing for all victims of crime. OVC accomplishes its mission in many ways, including—

• administering the Crime Victims Fund,
• funding and supporting programs that provide direct services to crime victims,
• providing training and technical assistance to the field,
• sponsoring demonstration projects, and
• producing publications and products on promising practices in victim services.

For more information, visit the About OVC section of our website.

Visit our Help for Victims microsite to learn about resources and services for victims of crime. Assistance may come in the form of financial reimbursement or victim services. Funding support for state assistance and compensation programs comes from the Crime Victims Fund administered by the OVC as authorized by the Victim of Crime Act.

Another source of help is your local victim/witness assistance program. You may contact the VictimConnect helpline by phone at 855–484–2846 or online chat for a referral in your area.

Find out more in this brochure, What You Can Do If You Are a Victim of Crime, which includes a brief overview of OVC, your rights, and where you can get help.

Visit our U.S Citizens Victimized Abroad page to learn about programs that provide funding and assistance to victims in the aftermath of a terrorism event outside the United States.

For technical assistance or guidance using JustGrants, contact JustGrants Support at 833–872–5175 or [email protected]. JustGrants Support operates weekdays from 5:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. eastern time and Saturday, Sunday, and Federal holidays from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. eastern time.

An applicant that experiences unforeseen Grants.gov or JustGrants technical issues beyond its control that prevent it from submitting its application by the deadline must email the Office of Justice Programs Response Center at [email protected] within 24 hours after the application deadline to request approval to submit its application after the deadline.

Applicants must submit their application electronically. OVC will not accept paper submissions.

The Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) specifically requires compensation to crime victims and survivors of victims of criminal violence for certain expenses resulting from physical injury from a compensable crime as defined by the state.

VOCA places priority on violent crime, but it does not prohibit coverage of nonviolent crimes. States may choose to broaden the range of compensable crimes to include those involving threats of injury or economic crime where victims are traumatized but not physically injured. Please keep in mind that eligibility requirements, in the end, are left up to the state.

Please contact your State Victim Compensation Program to learn about eligibility requirements.