The U.S. Justice Department’s Office for Victims of Crime (OVC) presents this report of OVC activities during fiscal years (FYs) 2019 and 2020.
Every year, OVC supports millions of victims of crime. The core of this support is the Crime Victims Fund (the Fund), which is financed, not by taxes, but by fines, bond forfeitures, and penalties from offenders in federal crimes. In FY 2019. OVC awarded just over $2.3 billion to state victim assistance and compensation programs, and in FY 2020, OVC awarded $1.8 billion to these programs. State victim assistance programs then use OVC formula grants awarded to State Administering Agencies, which then award subgrants directly to local service providers, who provide help for individuals, families, and communities recovering from both the immediate and prolonged effects of criminal victimization. Assistance funds support critical services such as crisis counseling, telephone and onsite information and referrals, criminal justice support and advocacy, emergency shelter, therapy, and more. States are also using assistance funds to develop new initiatives that address emerging needs and gaps in services for individuals and local communities. State victim compensation programs provide financial assistance and reimbursement to victims for crime-related out-of-pocket expenses, including medical and dental care, counseling, funeral and burial expenses, and lost wages and income. In FYs 2019 and 2020, victim service providers throughout the Nation dedicated themselves to helping those who need support and advocacy. This report provides descriptions and vignettes of some of OVC’s key victim services programs—highlighting their successes, their challenges, and their efforts to help victims of crime rebuild their lives.