Victims of Crime Act

The mission of the Victims of Crimes Act (VOCA) Program is to enhance and expand direct services to victims of crime with special emphasis placed on victims of domestic violence, child abuse, and sexual assault. Victim's Assistance is mandated under the Victims of Crime Act of 1984, as amended.

The program administers grants which provide funding support and technical assistance to approximately 63 community-based public or private agencies in the state which offer a range of services including crisis intervention, counseling, guidance, legal advocacy, transportation to court or to shelters and referrals.

According to federal guidelines, priority will be given to eligible crime victims assistance programs providing direct services to victims of:

• Rape/Sexual Assault
• Spousal Abuse
• Child Abuse
• Previously Underserved Victims of Violence Crime
  (Survivors of homicide victims, elderly victims of abuse or neglect, victims of drunk drivers, adult survivors of child sexual assault or incest, or other violent crimes that are being neglected or not being served adequately.)

West Virginia requires every program receiving VOCA funds to include, as a principal mission or component of its program, services to at least one category of priority victims, and:

• Be operated by a local unit of government or a private non-profit organization that provides services to crime victims.
• Have a record of providing effective services to victims of crime and have financial support from other sources.
• Utilize volunteers.
• Promote coordinated public and private efforts to aid crime victims.
• Assist victims in seeking available crime victim compensation benefits.

VOCA funds must be used only to provide direct services to victims of crime. (Direct services are activities that directly benefit individual crime victims.)

Allowable Costs

• Personnel expenses
• Contractual services (portion)
• Travel/Training expenses
• Space (pro-rated)
• Telephone (pro-rated)
• Audit Costs (2% of award)
• Program materials, supplies, etc.

Next Funding Cycle: July 1, 2008 - June 30, 2009
Applications will be due March 7,  2008 by 4:00PM. To download the 2007 Grant Application, click here.

VOCA Grant Forms

Publications

Web sites and online services

WV Division of Corrections - Victim Services

WV Prosecuting Attorneys Institute - Forensic Fund

Court of Claims - Crime Victims Compensation Fund

Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD)

Teen Dating Violence Resource

USDOJ Attorney General's Guidelines for Victim and Witness Assistance - May 2005

OVC New Directions from the Field Manual

Please contact Sarah Brown at (304) 558-8814, extension 210 for more information, or complete the form below.