This report describes the Crime Victims Fund (CVF) established by the 1984 Victims of Crime Act.
In 1984, the Crime Victims Fund (CVF, or the Fund) was established by the Victims of Crime Act to provide funding for state victim compensation and assistance programs. Since 1984, VOCA has been amended several times to support additional victim related activities including (1) discretionary grants for private organizations, (2) the Federal Victim Notification System, (3) funding for victim assistance staff within the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Executive Office of U.S. Attorneys, (4) funding for the Children’s Justice Act Program, (5) assistance and compensation for victims of terrorism, (6) funding for sexual assault survivors’ notification grants and ensuring rights of sexual assault survivors, and (7) restitution for victims of child pornography. VOCA has also been amended to include additional sources of funding for the CVF and adjust processes and requirements for VOCA grants. In 1988, the Office for Victims of Crime (OVC) was formally established within the Department of Justice (DOJ) to administer VOCA programs. OVC awards CVF money through grants to states, local units of government, individuals, and other entities and distributes CVF money to specially designated programs. In considering the CVF allocation for crime victim services and related activities, future caps, and sustainability of the CVF, policymakers may deliberate several issues. Congress may consider whether to adjust the way funds from the CVF are allocated; amend VOCA to accommodate additional or fewer purpose areas; set limits on the use of the CVF for purposes other than those explicitly authorized by VOCA; or make adjustments to the CVF and CVF cap—such as eliminating the cap or CVF altogether.