February 19, 2021
A Copy of an Email Sent by Kathrina S. Peterson, OVC Deputy Director, on January 25, 2021
Good Afternoon Everyone,
We are providing the attached memorandum to provide clarification on the charging and certification of sexual assault forensic exams to the Crime Victims Fund Compensation Program. The Office of the Inspector General recommended that we provide clarification on this issue, particularly regarding states that have additional sources of funding available for this purpose. We have spoken with many Compensation Administrators about this issue. Based on your input and our analysis of the Compensation Guidelines, we prepared the attached clarification memorandum.
As set forth in more detail in the attached memorandum:
- states may use VOCA compensation grant funds to pay for sexual assault forensic exams to the extent that state compensation programs compensate for sexual assault forensic exams; and
- states may include state payments for sexual assault forensic exams on their Victim Compensation Certification form with some limited exceptions, detailed further in the clarification memorandum.
If you have any questions about the attached clarification, please contact your program manager.
Thank you,
Kate
Kathrina S. Peterson
Deputy Director
State Victim Resource Division
Office for Victims of Crime