VOCA Victim Compensation and Victim Assistance Data Dashboard Considerations
Accurate data rely on correct tracking and reporting by the grantees; as such, the data and analysis provided reflect the information as grantees have provided it. These analytical findings cannot be used to make claims of causation or demonstrate evidence of program effectiveness. Data collection and performance measure reporting may vary by state. The data will be updated quarterly in the dashboard. Please reference the dashboard heading to determine when the data was last updated.
Victim Compensation
The Office for Victims of Crime (OVC) Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) Victim Compensation (VC) Formula Grant program provides supplemental funding to state compensation programs across the United States and its territories through 54 State Administering Agencies (SAAs). State compensation programs offer reimbursement to individuals for out-of-pocket expenses incurred because of a crime, distinguishable from restitution. The percentage of VOCA funding provided to the states is set by statute.
The annual grant amount is based on 75 percent of each state’s compensation payments from two years prior to the grant year. The dashboard showcases data reported into the OVC Performance Measurement Tool (PMT) across multiple fiscal years. PMT data showcases a range of information including application, demographic, payment, and expense data. The data presented in this dashboard include all reported state compensation claims, regardless of the funding source. Please see the OVC VOCA VC program performance measures page for further context and information.
Please see the Performance Measure Dictionary and Terminology Resource for definition guidelines on each crime type paid and services provided. It is important to note that the data are cleaned and validated with SAAs on a quarterly basis. If additional support is needed, please contact the OVC PMT Helpdesk.
Please see the following notes and potential limitations for each tab of the dashboard.
Applications
Please note, those applications received, approved, and denied during a reporting period are not mutually exclusive. For example, an application that was closed during a reporting period may have been received in another reporting period. Applications and claims can be processed, approved, or denied across quarters and even fiscal years. Application processing times differ by state or territory (e.g., date of victim intake vs. when the police report was included).
Demographics
Victims applying for compensation benefits in a given quarter can self-report demographics, including, age, gender, and race and ethnicity. If a victim chose not to self-report demographic, then it is included in the total as not tracked or not reported. Please note, demographics are only captured for applications and cannot be tracked through the decision making (approve/deny) or claim payout process.
Payment Statistics & Expense Types
Not all state administering agencies (SAA) can report on expenses paid by crime type. Further, crime type categorizations and definitions may vary by SAA.
Victim Assistance
The Office for Victims of Crime (OVC) Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) victim assistance (VA) Formula Grant program provides funding to victim services programs across the United States and its territories through 56 State Administering Agencies (SAAs). The dashboard showcases data reported into the OVC Performance Measurement Tool (PMT) across multiple fiscal years. PMT data showcases a range of information including victims served, demographics, victimizations, and services data. Please see the OVC VOCA VA program performance measures page for further context and information.
Please see the Performance Measure Dictionary and Terminology Resource for definition guidelines victimizations and services provided.
It is important to note that the data are cleaned and validated with SAAs on a quarterly basis. If additional support is needed, please contact the OVC PMT Helpdesk.
Please see the following notes and potential limitations for each tab of the dashboard.
Overview
Subgrant award report (SAR) data is based SARs active in the a given reporting period (e.g., fiscal year). Quarterly performance measure data is based on victims served in a given quarter. Due to the performance measures being collected in aggregate on a quarterly basis, the data is limited in that the demographics, victimizations, and services sections cannot be directly linked to determine the relationship between variables.
Organizations
Subgrantee organizations are able to select the most applicable organization type and designation when creating a SAR in the OVC PMT.
Victims Served
Total individuals served includes those returning for services and receiving services for the first time. The measure “Total individuals served” measure can vary it’s meaning depending on the context. When looking at a specific quarter, it represents the total number of unique individuals served including new and returning clients. For a fiscal year, this measure will be an aggregate of the four quarters and not a unique count of individuals, including new and returning individuals who can receive services up to four times a year.
Demographics
Demographic data is based on new individuals served.
Victimizations
Victimizations reported are based on total individuals served and anonymous contacts received. An individual can report more than one victimization per quarter. If an individual returns for services across multiple quarters, the victimization(s) will be counted each quarter, up to four times in a fiscal year.
Services
Services provided are based on total individuals served and anonymous contacts received. An individual can be counted as receiving a service up to four times in a given fiscal year and an individual can receive multiple services across categories. Services are counted based on occurrences, where one individual can receive more than one service occurrence in a given quarter. For example, one individual could represent twelve counseling service occurrences within a reporting period or 30 days of housing services.
Tribal Programs
The Office for Victims of Crime (OVC) administers grants to enhance services for American Indian and Alaska Native crime victims and their families. OVC provides this funding to hundreds of grantee organizations serving this population. This dashboard showcases data entered into the OVC Performance Measurement Tool (PMT) across multiple fiscal years. PMT data showcases a range of information about the victims served, demographics, victimizations, and victim services.
Please see the Transforming Victim Services Discretionary Grantee Performance Measures for further context and information.
Please see the Performance Measure Dictionary and Terminology Resource for definitions, guidelines, victimization types, and services provided.
It is important to note that the data in the dashboard are cleaned and validated with grantees on a quarterly basis. If additional support is needed, please contact the OVC PMT Helpdesk.
Please see the following notes and potential limitations for each tab of the dashboard.
Overview
Due to the performance measures being collected in aggregate on a quarterly basis, the data is limited in that the demographics, victimizations, and services sections cannot be directly linked to determine the relationship between variables. “Total individuals served” includes those returning for services and those receiving services for the first time. Please note that the definition of the “total individuals served” measure can vary depending on the context. For example, when looking at a specific quarter, “total individuals served” represents the total number of unique individuals served, which includes both new and returning clients. For a fiscal year, this measure will be an aggregate of the four quarters. It is not a unique count of individuals and including new and returning individuals who can receive services up to four times a year.
Demographics
Demographic data is based on new individuals served.
Services
Service data are based on the total number of individuals served, and anonymous contacts received. An individual can be counted as receiving a service up to four times in a given fiscal year and an individual can receive multiple services across categories. Services are counted based on occurrences, where one individual can receive more than one service occurrence in a given quarter. For example, one individual could represent 12 counseling service occurrences within a reporting period or 30 days of housing services.
Victimizations
Victimizations reported are based on the number of total individuals served and anonymous contacts received. An individual can report more than one victimization per quarter. If an individual returns for services across multiple quarters, the victimization(s) will be counted each quarter, up to four times in a fiscal year.
Missing or Murdered Indigenous Persons
Please note this data is collected on a calendar year basis.
Developing Future Victim Specialists
Please note that this data is collected on a calendar year basis. Interns who began their internship in a given reporting period do not necessarily complete their internship in that given reporting period.