Victim services

Female genital mutilation or cutting refers to a barbaric practice involving partial or total removal of female genitalia or other injury to female genital organs for non-medical reasons. This terrible crime occurs in many parts of the world and is impacting victims here in the United States.

On Friday, October 30, 2020, the Office of Justice Programs announced that the Office for Victims of Crime...

On Tuesday, October 6, 2020, Attorney General Barr announced that the Office of Justice Programs awarded grants over $144 million to enhance services for victims of crime across the United States. Approximately $64.3 million of this funding was awarded by the Office for Victims of Crime.

Among the programs funded by the Office for Victims of Crime are crime victims' rights legal clinics, services to older...

The Office for Victims of Crime annually recognizes individuals and organizations that demonstrate outstanding service in supporting victims.

The 2020 National Crime Victims’ Service Awards recipients were selected from nominations in a variety of categories for their vision, action, and leadership in seeking justice, ensuring victims’ rights, and inspiring hope.

In a video message, OVC Director Jessica E. Hart states that “among the honored...

The Department of Justice has a long-standing commitment to improve public safety in American Indian and Alaska Native communities. During a visit to the Cherokee Nation on Wednesday, September 30, 2020, Attorney General Barr announced over $295 million in funding, of which approximately $118 million will be awarded by the Office for Victims of Crime.

“I am grateful to this Administration and the Department of...

In commemoration of the 30th anniversary of the International Day of Older Persons—a day in which we reaffirm our commitment to protecting and promoting the rights of seniors—Attorney General Barr announced $9.4 million in funding to programs serving older victims of fraud and abuse.

This announcement included nearly $6 million in Office for Victims of Crime funding to support direct services to older victims...

On Wednesday, September 30, 2020, Office for Victims of Crime Director Jessica Hart participated in a roundtable with anti-trafficking professionals, including Governor Brian Kemp; First Lady Marty Kemp; Lieutenant Governor Geoff Duncan; Georgia Attorney General Carr; GRACE Commission members; U.S. Attorneys BJay Pak, Charlie Peeler, and Bobby Christine; and Georgia Bureau of Investigation Director Vic Reynolds.

The panel was convened to discuss combating human trafficking through public/private partnerships, as well as...

To commemorate National Campus Safety Awareness Month, Office for Victims of Crime Director Jessica E. Hart released a video message.

“In the wake of the pandemic, it is more important than ever to commemorate this month as National Campus Safety Awareness Month and to commit ourselves to raising awareness about the safety on college and university campuses across the country” states Director Hart.

This...

On Monday, September 21, 2020, Attorney General Barr and Advisor to the President Ivanka Trump announced the release of nearly $100 million in Office for Victims of Crime funding during a meeting at the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia. 

This funding, which includes the $35 million in funding for housing assistance announced during a recent White House event, will go towards...

September is National Preparedness Month

President Trump has proclaimed September as National Preparedness Month. In his proclamation, the President states “we cannot always know when the next crisis will occur, but we can know that we will be prepared by committing ourselves to a culture of resilience.”

OVC’s Helping Victims of Mass Violence & Terrorism: Planning, Response, Recovery, and Resources toolkit provides communities and...