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Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance

Program Descriptions

CATALOG OF FEDERAL DOMESTIC ASSISTANCE

16.575:  Crime Victim Assistance

Objectives:  The first $10,000,000 deposited in the fund shall be available for grants under Section 1404A. Of the remaining amount deposited in the fund in a particular year, 48.5 percent shall be available for grants under 1404 (a). Three percent shall be available for grants under 1404 (c). Under Section 1404B, the OVC Director may make supplemental grants to States for providing compensation and assistance to residents, who while outside of the U.S. become victim of a terrorist act or mass violence; eligible State compensation and assistance programs to provide emergency relief, including crisis assistance, training, technical assistance for the benefit of victims of terrorist acts or mass violence occurring within the U.S.; and to U.S. Attorney's Offices for use in coordination with State victim compensation and assistance efforts in providing services to victims of terrorist acts or mass violence occurring within the U.S. Under Section 1402 the Director of OVC may retain funds in an emergency reserve fund in excess of 110 percent of the total amount deposited in the Crime Victims Fund during the preceding fiscal year, up to $50 million to supplement the above grants and to supplement victim compensation and assistance programs in years the Fund decreases and additional monies are needed to support State programs. A primary purpose of this program is to stimulate State participation and support for victim services programs and promote victim cooperation with law enforcement, in addition to the direct benefit to crime victims with Federal assistance monies.

PROGRAM AND AWARD FINANCIAL AND INFORMATION CONTACTS
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS FINANCIAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE INFO.
APPLICATION AND AWARD PROCESS INFORMATION CONTACTS
RELATED PROGRAMS ASSISTANCE CONSIDERATIONS
PROGRAM ACCOMPLISHMENTS POST ASSISTANCE REQUIREMENTS


16.575 ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS:

Applicant Eligibility:  Any State, DC, all Commonwealths and any other territory or possession of the United States are eligible. Funds will be subgranted to eligible public and nonprofit organizations or combinations of such agencies or organizations or of both such agencies and organizations, who provide direct services to victims of crime.

Beneficiary Eligibility:  Any member of the general public who has been a victim of a crime or those who are survivors of victims of crime.

Credentials/Documentation:  Applications from the designated State agency for this program must be submitted on Standard Form 424 at a time specified by the Office for Victims of Crime, Office of Justice Programs. The State grant applicant, by completing the grant application, and by receiving a VOCA victim assistance grant award, certifies: (1) that funds awarded to eligible crime victim assistance programs will not be utilized to supplant State and/or local funds that would otherwise be available for crime victim assistance; (2) that the State will provide such accounting, auditing, monitoring and evaluation procedures as may be necessary, and keep such records as the Office of Justice Programs may prescribe, to assure fiscal control, proper management and efficient disbursement of Federal funds; (3) that the State shall give priority to programs aiding victims of sexual assault, spousal abuse, or child abuse, and to programs serving previously underserved victims of violent crimes as determined by the State; (4) that the State will submit to the Office of Justice Programs Subgrant Award Reports and Performance Reports concerning the activities carried out with the Federal funds received and will maintain and report such data and information as required; (5) that the State will adhere to the audit and financial management requirements set forth in the OJP Financial Guide; (6) that the State will comply with all applicable Federal nondiscrimination requirements; and, (7) certify that the information in the application is correct and that the State will comply with all applicable provisions of the Victims of Crime Act and other Federal laws, regulations, and circulars. Costs will be determined in accordance with OMB Circular No. A-87 for State and local governments.

16.575 APPLICATION AND AWARD PROCESS:

Preapplication Coordination:  The standard application forms as furnished by the Federal agency in accordance with 28-CFR, Part 66 (Common Rule), must be used for this program. This program is excluded from coverage under Executive Order 12372.

Application Procedure:  In accordance with the Common Rule, the SF 424 as well as other required documentation, i.e., certifications regarding drug-free workplace, lobbying, etc., outlined in the Program Instruction, must be submitted when applying for funding under this program. Please contact Linda Rost, Grants Technician, State Compensation and Assistance Division, Office for Victims of Crime, (202) 307-5983. At the time of submission, an original and one copy are required.

Award Procedure:  The Director, Office for Victims of Crime, Office of Justice Programs has final approval authority. Once an award is granted to a State, the State will subgrant the monies to private nonprofit and/or public agencies for the purpose specified in the application and in conformance with all general and special conditions.

Deadlines:  Contact the Headquarters Office: Eligible States will be notified of the date for submission of applications through the Program Instruction and Application kit.

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time:  From 3 to 4 weeks.

Appeals:  Hearing by the Assistant Attorney General, Office of Justice Programs.

Renewals:  Awards are for the year of award plus three years; applications will be submitted annually.

Criteria for Selecting Proposals:  Criteria for selecting proposals are specifically spelled out in the Victims of Crime Act of 1984, Public Law 98-473. Additional criteria will be developed by the Office for Victims of Crime. These criteria are published in the Annual Program Instruction and Application Kit and Office of Justice Program Formula Grant Guidelines.

Examples of Funded Projects:  Potential projects include, but are not limited to: funding to support (a) domestic violence shelter services; (b) rape crisis programs, including coverage for sexual assault examinations: child abuse treatment programs; and (d) support groups for survivors of homicide victim and DUI/DWI crash victims, etc.

Range and Average of Financial Assistance:  Base of $500,000 (Effective in fiscal year 1990) to each State, Commonwealth, and the District of Columbia. Territories of the United States except Palau receive a base of $200,000. Remaining dollars will be divided based on population.

16.575 RELATED PROGRAMS:

  • 16.576 Crime Victim Compensation;
  • 16.582 Crime Victim Assistance/Discretionary Grants;
  • 93.645 Child Welfare Services: State Grants.

16.575 PROGRAM ACCOMPLISHMENTS:

In fiscal year 1999, awards totaled about $238,136,000 in fiscal year 1999.

16.575 FINANCIAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE INFO:

Federal Agency:  OFFICE OF JUSTICE PROGRAMS, OFFICE FOR VICTIMS OF CRIME, DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

Type of Assistance:  Formula Grants.

Obligations:  (Grants) FY 99 $275,670,800; FY 00 est $238,136,000; and FY 01 est $370,167,000.

Budget Account Number:  15-5041-0-2-754.

Authorization:  Victims of Crime Act of 1984 (VOCA), as amended, Public Law 98-473, Chapter 112, 42 U.S.C. 10601 et seq., Section 1402, Section 1404; Children's Justice and Assistance Act of 1986, as amended, Public Law 99-401, Section 102(5)(b)(a)(ii); Anti-Drug Abuse Act of 1988, Title VII, Subtitle D, Public Law 100-690; Crime Control Act of 1990, Public Law 101-647; Federal Courts Administration Act of 1992, Public Law 102-572; Departments of Commerce, Justice, State, the Judiciary, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act of 1994; Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994, Subtitle C, Public Law 104-132; Anti-Terrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act of 1996; Omnibus Appropriations Act of 1997.

Regulations, Guidelines, and Literature:  Program Instruction and Application Kit and the OJP Financial Guide are available by writing to Office for Victims of Crime, Office of Justice Program, Department of Justice, 810 Seventh Street, NW., Washington, DC 20531.

16.575 INFO CONTACTS:

Regional or Local Office:  None.

Headquarters Office:  Carol R. Watkins, Director, State Compensation and Assistance Division, Office for Victims of Crime, Office of Justice Programs, Department of Justice, 810 Seventh Street, NW., Washington, DC 20531. Phone: (202) 514-4696. Use the same number for FTS.

(See Appendix IV for more contact info.)

16.575 ASSISTANCE CONSIDERATIONS:

Formula and Matching Requirements:  Awards will be made on the basis of population with a base amount of $500,000 for States $200,000 for the territories of N. Mariana Islands, Guam and American Samoa. Fund availability may necessitate a base change.

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance:  States have the year of award plus 3 years to expend the funds. Funds not obligated by the end of the grant period in excess of $500,000 will revert to the General Treasury.

Uses and Use Restrictions:  Funds under this program shall be used by States and territories to provide direct services to crime victims with the following exception: States may retain up to 5 percent of their grant for administrative purposes, and 1 percent of their grant for training. All States and most Territories receive an annual VOCA victim assistance grant. Each State, DC, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico receive a base amount of $500,000. The territories of the Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, and American Samoa each receive a base amount of $200,000. Additional funds are distributed based on populations. That portion of the then remaining funds will be divided among all States or territories according to population (U.S. Census Bureau). If the amount available for grants under this program is insufficient to provide $500,000 to each State, the base amount available shall be distributed equally among the States and territories. A victim assistance program is an eligible crime victim assistance program under VOCA if it: (A) is operated by a public agency or a nonprofit organization, or a combination of such agencies or organizations or of both such agencies and organizations, and provides services to victims of crime; (B) demonstrates a record of providing effective services to victims of crime and substantial financial support from nonfederal sources; utilizes volunteers in providing such services, unless and to the extent the chief executive determines that compelling reasons exist to waive this requirement; (C) promotes within the community, coordinated public and private efforts to aid crime victims; and (D) assists potential recipients in seeking crime victim compensation benefits. An eligible crime victim assistance program shall expend sums received under subsection (a) only for providing direct services to victims of crime. The chief executive of each State shall (A) certify that priority shall be given to eligible crime victim assistance programs providing assistance to victims of sexual assault, spousal abuse, or child abuse, and to programs serving previously underserved victims of violent crime, as determined by the State, (B) certify that funds awarded to eligible crime victim assistance programs will not be used to supplant State and local funds otherwise available for crime victim assistance; and provide such other information and assurances related to the purposes of this section as the Director may reasonably require. As used in this program, (1) the term "State" includes DC, Puerto Rico, the United States Virgin Islands, and any other territory or possession of the United States; and (2) the term "services to victims of crime" includes (a) crisis intervention services to provide emotional support in cases arising from the occurrence of crime; (b) providing, in an emergency, transportation to court, short-term child care services, and temporary housing and security measures; (c) assistance in participating in criminal justice proceedings; and (d) payment of all reasonable costs for a forensic medical examination of sexual assault victims, to the extent that such costs are otherwise not reimbursed or paid; (3) the term "chief executive" includes a person designated by the governor to perform the functions of the chief executive under this section.

16.575 POST ASSISTANCE REQUIREMENTS:

Reports:  Subgrant Award Report for each subrecipient of VOCA funds; Quarterly, final financial reports and Annual Program Performance reports will be required as stipulated in the Program Guidelines and the OJP Financial Guide.

Audits:  All organizations that expend financial assistance of $300,000 or more in federal funds in any fiscal year must have a single audit for that year in accordance with OMB Circular No. A-133, as amended, unless the audit condition on the award says otherwise. These audits are due to the cognizant Federal agency not later than 9 months after the end of the grantee's fiscal year.

Records:  Financial records, supporting documents, statistical records, and all other records pertinent to a grant shall be retained for a period of at least three years after the grant has been closed.

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Last Updated, November, 2000             Comments or Questions?           ©Grant Community.com 2000, All Rights Reserved