News and announcements

OVC is seeking applicants for the OVC FY 2020 Improving Community Preparedness to Assist Victims of Mass Violence or Domestic Terrorism: Training and Technical Assistance Project solicitation.

This project will provide training, technical assistance, and support to enable communities to augment their existing emergency response plans to ensure that they include effective protocols and strategies to address the immediate and long-term needs of victims, families...

The National Census of Victim Service Providers is the first-ever national data collection of programs responding to victims and survivors of crime and abuse. The recently released report, Victim Service Providers in the United States, 2017, provides the most comprehensive picture of the victim services field to date.

The census was conducted by the Bureau of Justice Statistics with support from OVC.

According to...

OVC announces the release of the OVC FY 2020 Housing Assistance Grants for Victims of Human Trafficking solicitation.

The program will support—

1. transitional housing, including funding for the operating expenses of a newly developed or existing transitional housing program; and


2. short-term housing assistance, including rental or utilities payment assistance and assistance with related expenses.

Projects must also include support services designed to enable victims of...

The 2020 National Crime Victims' Rights Week (NCVRW) color palette, customizable Theme Poster, and Theme Poster source art are now available online.

• Theme Colors: dark blue, dark green, with an optional light green. View the 2020 NCVRW Color Palette (PDF 487 kb).


• Theme Poster: Download a customizable copy of the 2020 NCVRW Theme Poster (PDF 204 kb) and the 2020 NCVRW Theme Poster Source Art...

The U.S. Department of Justice is seeking applicants for its Fiscal Year 2020 Coordinated Tribal Assistance Solicitation (CTAS).

CTAS provides comprehensive funding to federally recognized Tribes, Tribal consortia, and Tribal designees to develop a comprehensive and coordinated approach to public safety and victimization.

CTAS applicants have the flexibility to submit a single application and select from any or all of the purpose areas, including...

Every January, our nation commemorates National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month.

This year, OVC celebrates the 20th anniversary of the Trafficking Victims Protection Act, which established the importance of holding traffickers criminally accountable, protecting victims, and preventing victimization from occurring in the first place. Learn more about some of OVC's work in supporting anti-trafficking professionals over the past 20 years.

Since the Trafficking Victims...

OVC invites Tribal leaders, representatives, and stakeholders to participate in a Tribal Consultation on Tribal Set-Aside Funding from the Crime Victims Fund. Attendees will discuss tribal set-aside funding and how it can be programmed.

An in-person government to government consultation will be held on Wednesday, February 12, 2020, from 1:30 to 5:00 p.m., in conjunction with the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) 2020 Executive...

The Office of Justice Programs is sponsoring a training series to educate rural and Tribal organizations and agencies on how to apply for funding opportunities.

Representatives from the Office for Victims of Crime, the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, and the Bureau of Justice Assistance will provide an overview of the grants application process. They will also highlight funding application requirements and identify...

OVC recently announced the release of the new Understanding Human Trafficking training at the Human Trafficking Grantee Meeting in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

OVC invites victim service providers, allied professionals, and interested members of the general public to register for this new training, a series of five interactive online modules that offer foundational learning on trauma-informed and victim-centered approaches to human trafficking.

The Understanding Human Trafficking...

National Crime Victims' Rights Week (NCVRW) will be observed April 19–25, 2020, and this year's theme is Seek Justice | Ensure Victims' Rights | Inspire Hope.

Sign up for the NCVRW subscription list or update your preferences by 11:59 p.m. eastern time on February 21, 2020, to ensure that you receive a complimentary printed copy of this year's Theme and Awareness Poster Kit...

OVC is seeking applicants for the OVC FY 2020 State Victim Liaison Project solicitation.

The State Victim Liaison Project will place one or more experienced crime victim liaison(s) within selected Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) State Administrating Agencies to help states enhance services to:

1. crime victims who reside in rural/Tribal areas, and/or
2. older victims (aged 60 years or older) of any crime, and/or
3. victims of...

Every April, OVC leads the nation in its observance of National Crime Victims' Rights Week (NCVRW). This year's theme—Seek Justice | Ensure Victims' Rights | Inspire Hope—will guide communities as they promote victims' rights and services from April 19–25.

Use these 2020 NCVRW resources to help plan your events and raise awareness:

• Theme Artwork
• Customizable Theme Poster
• Web Artwork
• Sample Proclamation

Download 2020...

OVC is seeking applicants for the OVC FY 2020 Law Enforcement-Based Victim Specialist Program solicitation.

The goal of this program is to assist state, Tribal, and local law enforcement agencies in developing or enhancing victim specialist programs that connect victims and families to much-needed services.

Apply under four purpose areas based on the size or type of law enforcement agency (small, mid-size, large, or Tribal)...

OVC is seeking applicants for the OVC FY 2020 Crime Victim Compensation Program Assessment solicitation.

During this three-phase project, successful applicants will seek to increase awareness of victim compensation programs and interest in seeking victim compensation.

Phase 1: Conduct an assessment of the state's current compensation program, policies, and procedures regarding victims' access to compensation, which should include an analysis of applicable rules, regulations...

OVC is seeking applicants for the OVC FY 2020 Crime Victims' Rights Legal Clinics solicitation.

This initiative is intended to support or expand federal, state, local, and Tribal efforts to enforce crime victims' rights. Applicants may apply under the following purpose areas—

• Purpose Area 1: victims' rights legal clinics that will provide the enforcement of crime victims' rights in the criminal justice process, and
• Purpose...

OVC is seeking applicants for OVC FY 2020 Addressing Female Genital Mutilation and Cutting (FGM) solicitation.

The goal of this program is to deliver programming to address and help stop the practice of FGM by—

1. educating law enforcement, public health professionals, and educators on detecting at-risk girls in localities where FGM is a risk,
2. responding to victims by providing appropriate services, and
3. forming community networks...

Apply for the OVC FY 2020 Enhancing Services for Older Victims of Abuse and Financial Exploitation solicitation.

OVC is seeking applications to implement projects intended to improve outcomes, minimize additional trauma, and restore safety and security to older adult victims of abuse and financial exploitation.

Priority will be given to applicants that—

• address specific challenges that rural communities face,
• demonstrate that the individuals who are...

Apply for the OVC FY 2020 Expanding SANE Services to Victims of Sexual Assault on Campus solicitation.

OVC is seeking applications to establish or expand Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) programs that will offer medical forensic care, advocacy, and other victim services to sexual assault survivors on college campuses.

To the extent possible, campuses should collaborate with victim service providers in the community in which...

OVC is seeking applicants for the OVC FY 2020 Enhancing Community Responses to America’s Addiction Crisis: Serving Our Youngest Crime Victims solicitation.

Applicants may apply under only one of the following purpose areas—

• Purpose Area 1: direct services to children and youth who are crime victims as a result of the nation’s addiction crisis, and
• Purpose Area 2: training and technical assistance for the direct...

OVC is seeking applicants for the OVC FY 2020 Enhancing Community Responses to America’s Addiction Crisis: Serving Our Youngest Crime Victims solicitation.

Applicants may apply under only one of the following purpose areas—

• Purpose Area 1: direct services to children and youth who are crime victims as a result of the nation’s addiction crisis, and
• Purpose Area 2: training and technical assistance for the direct...

Apply for the OVC FY 2020 Training for Law Enforcement to Improve Identification of and Response to Elder Fraud Victims solicitation.

The goal of this program is to provide training and technical assistance to law enforcement agencies to more effectively identify elder fraud victims, allowing law enforcement both to bring the fraudsters to justice and to connect those victims with available services. This program will...