State Services to Victims Fund Grant

State Services To Victims Fund (SSVF) Grant

The State's initial victim assistance program was established by the Missouri General Assembly under the auspices of the DPS with the adoption of Section 595.050, RSMo in 1981. With the passage of Section 595.100, RSMo (1988), the Services to Victims Fund was established.

Source of Funding

The source of funding is a $7.50 court cost assessed in any court in the state (including juvenile court) for violation of a criminal law of the state including an infraction and violation of a municipal or county ordinance.

Out of the funds collected there is an annual appropriation for state forensic laboratories the Missouri Office for Victims of Crime and the maintenance of a victim notification system (MoVANS – Missouri Victim Automated Notification System). The balance of the funds available is split equally between the Crime Victims’ Compensation fund and the Services to Victims’ Fund.

Eligible Subgrantee Organizations

Public and not for profit private agencies are eligible to apply for funds available through the SSVF Program. Public, governmental agencies may not receive these funds to supplant existing funds that are presently being used to provide assistance to victims of crime. These are intended to start new programs or to expand/enhance existing programs.

In addition to victim services organizations whose sole purpose is to serve crime victims, there are many other public agencies and not-for-profit organizations that have components which offer services to crime victims. These organizations are eligible to receive SSVF grant funds, if the funds are used to expand or enhance the delivery of crime victim’s services.

Eligibility Requirements

• The crime must have been committed in Missouri, or the crime victim must be a resident of Missouri;
• The crime must have involved the threat or the use of force or violence in its commission;
• The crime must have been reported to an appropriate law enforcement office within forty-eight (48) hours after the victim of the crime, a dependent or a member of the family of the victim could reasonably be expected to make a report;
• The victim of the crime cannot be the perpetrator or a principal or accessory involved in the commission of the crime ;
• Injuries sustained by the victim of crime cannot be a result of the operation of a motor vehicle, boat or airplane unless the same was used as a weapon in a deliberate attempt to inflict personal injury upon any person or unless the victim was injured as a result of the crime of driving while intoxicated, vehicular manslaughter or hit and run.
• Subrecipients must provide services to victims through the State Services to Victims funded program free of charge.

Allowable Costs

Allowable costs include direct services to victims of crime and training for staff and volunteers in the area of providing direct services to victims of crime.