OVC administers formula grant programs that support a network of victim assistance and compensation services; manages discretionary grants for training, technical assistance, and demonstration programs to benefit crime victims; and creates direct service programs for victims of Federal crimes.
All of these programs are funded by the Crime Victims Fund, which comes from the fines, penalty assessments, and bond forfeitures of Federal criminal offenders--not from tax dollars. Deposits in the Fund for FY99 total over $324 million dollars. Of this amount, about 90 percent is distributed directly to the States in formula grants to help fund critical victim assistance and compensation programs. Approximately $9.4 million is available this year in discretionary funds to support diverse training and technical assistance efforts, services for Federal crime victims, and demonstration programs. In addition, under the Children's Justice and Assistance Act, $1.5 million is allocated for programs to improve the handling of child abuse cases in Indian Country.
Recently, OVC supported the development of a comprehensive plan that identifies public policy issues affecting crime victims and recommends initiatives to improve rights and services for crime victims. This document, New Directions from the Field: Rights and Services for the 21st Century, recommends what the nation should strive to achieve for victims as we enter the 21st century. OVC used these recommendations to develop the strategy for its FY 99 Discretionary Grant Program Plan.