entity

Office for Victims of Crime

Also known as: OVC

Facts (13)

Sources

Hope After Harm: An Evaluation of State Victim Compensation Statutes americanprogress.org Center for American Progress Aug 20, 2025 12 facts

measurementAs of fiscal year 2022, most states reported not providing a victim satisfaction survey in their Annual Performance Measures Report to the Office for Victims of Crime (OVC).

referenceState Crime Victim Compensation (CVC) programs are required to detail their public outreach efforts to improve awareness of victim compensation in their annual performance measure reports to the Office for Victims of Crime (OVC).

measurementA nationwide survey conducted by the Office for Victims of Crime (OVC) found that 9 out of 10 people with criminal records have been victims of crime, whereas less than half (44 percent) of people without a criminal record have been victims of crime.

claimThe Office for Victims of Crime (OVC) proposed rule changes in 2024, which were later withdrawn, to clarify that the VOCA eligibility requirement for states to promote victim cooperation with law enforcement applies to the states themselves, not to individual victims.

claimIn 2020, the Office for Victims of Crime (OVC) launched a resource developed by Project Trust designed to assist organizations in becoming trauma-informed.

claimIn its 2024 proposed rule changes, the Office for Victims of Crime (OVC) explicitly encouraged states to avoid placing an evidentiary burden on victims to demonstrate their cooperation with law enforcement.

claimThe Office for Victims of Crime (OVC) reported in a 'Dear Colleague' letter that its guidance on police cooperation was one of the issue areas that received the strongest support from stakeholders during the public comment period for proposed rule changes.

claimThe U.S. Congress passed the Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) in 1984, which established the Crime Victims Fund (CVF) to be administered by the federal Office for Victims of Crime (OVC).

measurementFollowing the passage of the VOCA Fix to Sustain the Crime Victims Fund Act, the Office for Victims of Crime awards grants to state Crime Victim Compensation programs at 75 percent of the previous year’s payouts.

perspectiveState Crime Victim Compensation (CVC) programs should adopt the trauma-informed guidance provided by the Office for Victims of Crime and Project Trust, require staff training on trauma-informed communication, and periodically review their organizational culture.

quoteThe Office for Victims of Crime (OVC) stated, “For many survivors, policies that consider conviction histories may stand in the way of obtaining compensation.”

claimWhile many states track awareness programs in Office for Victims of Crime (OVC) annual performance measure reports, this practice is not typically codified in state law or regulations.

Justice Department Slashes Essential Services for Crime Victims brennancenter.org Brennan Center for Justice Nov 7, 2025 1 fact

claimU.S. Department of Justice leaders claimed that withdrawing grants awarded by the Office for Victims of Crime would not directly impact victims.