News and announcements

Dear Colleague,

Thank you for joining us this week as we commemorate National Crime Victims' Rights Week (NCVRW) and spread awareness of victims' rights, protections, and services.

I'm pleased to announce that the National Crime Victims' Service Awards Ceremony will be Friday, October 2, 2020. During the ceremony, OVC will present awards recognizing individuals and organizations from across the nation for their outstanding service on...

Dear Colleague,

Each April, we pause to celebrate the many advances in crime victim support in our nation: victim engagement in the criminal justice system, increasing availability of services, and recognition of rights for all victims and survivors. We also seek to ensure justice for those victims whose voices have yet to be heard.

At the end of March, I was sworn in as the...

Good afternoon! Thank you to the wonderful people at NOVA who worked hard to make today's webinar happen. And a special thanks to Claire Selib for offering me the opportunity to introduce myself to the NOVA community.

I was appointed the Director of OVC in late March, in the midst of the COVID spread, so this has been an unusual time to join OVC. But...

Each May we pause and pay tribute to the local, Tribal, state, and federal law enforcement officers who have devoted their lives to safeguarding our own. Attorney General William P. Barr asks all Americans this week “to join me in saying ‘thank you’ to our nation’s federal, state, local, and Tribal law enforcement officers. Their devotion and sacrifice to our peace and security will not...

Dear Grantees:

I hope this email finds you all healthy and safe during these challenging times. Here at the Office for Victims of Crime (OVC) we continue to work at full capacity, albeit remotely, to support you in the critical delivery of services to all victims of crime. Thousands of victims of crime rely on OVC grantees as they work to rebuild their lives and...

Good morning! Thank you, Attorney General Yost, and all the staff in your office who worked hard to make today's webinar happen. I sincerely appreciate the opportunity to introduce myself and share a bit about the Office for Victims of Crime.

As previously mentioned, I was appointed the Director of OVC, a component of the Office of Justice Programs at the Department of Justice, in...

Thanks so much Katie. Good afternoon or morning to those of you on the west coast!

Before I get started, I want highlight the focus Katie has had on this program and working with all of you.

When I first came on-board, she stressed to me the importance of the work you all do and she made it a priority to make sure you are...

Today is the fifteenth anniversary of World Elder Abuse Awareness Day. In the shadow of a pandemic that has disproportionately affected senior populations, we come together to raise awareness about elder abuse, neglect, and exploitation.

For too long elder abuse—a term that encompasses physical abuse, financial fraud, scams and exploitation, caregiver neglect and abandonment, psychological abuse, and sexual abuse—was a hidden epidemic. But as the...

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month

President Trump proclaimed that October is National Domestic Violence Awareness Month. In his proclamation, the President states "We strive to eliminate domestic violence in all its horrific forms in order to sustain the hope of a better life for victims and to foster safer homes and relationships for all Americans."

The proclamation also highlights "in fiscal years 2018...

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.

Subscribers...