Recovery Act - Victims of Crime Act Grant

The Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) of 1984 was passed by Congress to assist states in providing high quality services that are directly related to the emotional healing and recovery of crime victims. The U.S. Department of Justice, Office for Victims of Crime (OVC), administers these funds at the federal level, and the Missouri Department of Public Safety administers the VOCA funds at the state level. The primary purpose of these grants is to support the provision of direct services to victims of crime throughout the nation, to assist victims of crime as soon as possible in order to reduce the severity of the psychological and emotional consequences of the victimization, and to demonstrate on-going support for the victim in coping with the impact of the victimization.

Recovery Act: VOCA Program States Allocations http://www.ovc.gov/

Services under this grant program are defined as those efforts that (1) respond to the emotional and physical needs of crime victims; (2) assist primary and secondary victims of crime to stabilize their lives after a victimization; (3) assist victims to understand and participate in the criminal justice system; and (4) provide victims of crime with a measure of safety and security such as boarding-up broken windows and replacing and repairing locks.

Federal Stimulus Grant

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act ("Recovery Act") of 2009 was signed into law by the President on February 17, 2009. The law included a direct appropriation of $100 million in grant funding to be administered by the Office for Victims of Crime (OVC). Of the total amount of this appropriation, 95 percent ($95 million) will be distributed among eligible state VOCA crime victim compensation and victim assistance administering agencies.

Applying For Funding Through DPS

Please note: Applicants under this solicitation must include a DUNS (Data Universal Numbering System) number in their application. Applications without a DUNS number are incomplete. In addition to the DUNS number, applicants are required to maintain current registrations in the Central Contractor Registration (CCR) database. If your organization does not know its DUNS number or needs to register for one, visit Dun & Bradstreet at http://fedgov.dnb.com/webform/displayHomePage.do

Allocation of Funds

At least ten percent (10%) of total funds distributed must be allocated to each of the three priority categories & victims of sexual assault, domestic violence, and child abuse & and at least ten (10%) to programs that serve victims determined by the state to have been previously underserved.

Match Requirements

VOCA recipients must provide TBA of the total project cost in cash or in-kind match.

Organization Eligibility Requirements

  • Organizations must be operated by a public or nonprofit organization, or a combination of such organizations, and provide services to crime victims.
  • Agencies must demonstrate a record of providing effective services to crime victims.
  • Sub-recipient organizations must use volunteers in the provision of services.
  • Promote, within the community, coordinated public and private efforts to aid crime victims.
  • Assist victims in seeking crime victim compensation benefits.
  • Comply with the applicable provisions of VOCA, the Program Guidelines, and the requirements of the OJP Financial Guide.
  • Maintain statutorily required civil rights statistics on victims.
  • Abide by any additional eligibility or service criteria as established by the Missouri Department of Public Safety.
  • Provide services to victims of federal crimes.
  • Provide services to crime victims, at no charge, through the VOCA-funded project.
  • Maintain confidentiality of client-counselor information, as required by state and federal law.

Applying For Funding Through DPS

Please note: Applicants under this solicitation must include a DUNS (Data Universal Numbering System) number in their application. Applications without a DUNS number are incomplete. In addition to the DUNS number, applicants are required to maintain current registrations in the Central Contractor Registration (CCR) database. If your organization does not know its DUNS number or needs to register for one, visit Dun & Bradstreet at http://fedgov.dnb.com/webform/displayHomePage.do.

Contract Period

TBA

VOCA Stimulus Funding

Approximately $891,000 to be spent over a duration of 3 years

Due to limited funding provided for VOCA grants, Victim Service programs are also encouraged to apply for JAG funding under the Crime Victim and Witness Programs purpose area http://www.dps.mo.gov/dir/programs/cjle/jag.php.

Proposals are no longer being accepted for Recovery Act STOP VAWA Grant funding.

Quarterly Reports and Instructions

TBA