Federal Victims of Crime Act applications open today

FRANKFORT, Ky. (April 8, 2024) – Today, Gov. Andy Beshear announced that applications are available now for more than $15 million in grant funding to support victims of crime under the federal Victims of Crime Act program, known as VOCA. Those eligible to apply include crime victim service providers across Kentucky, such as prosecutor’s offices, law enforcement agencies and nonprofit organizations that offer direct services to victims of crime.

“No one deserves to be a victim of crime,” Gov. Beshear said. “And my administration will do everything in our power to fight for your safety, your healing and your justice and to save future generations from suffering from further crime. One way we do this is through this funding, and we continue to advocate to the federal government for increased funds, so more people are protected.”

The Governor said VOCA is the primary federal grant program supporting direct assistance services to victims of child abuse, sexual assault and domestic violence. Funding can also serve survivors of homicide and victims of burglary, theft and drug and alcohol-related crime, as well as elderly victims and adult survivors of childhood sexual abuse or assault.

During federal fiscal year 2023, 113,763 victims in the commonwealth were served, and 1,019,355 services were provided through VOCA grant funds.

“VOCA funding is critical in responding to the emotional, psychological and physical needs of crime victims, assisting them in stabilizing their lives after this unimaginable trauma, helping them understand and navigate the criminal justice process, while also restoring a measure of security and safety for survivors” said Justice and Public Safety Cabinet Secretary Keith Jackson. “The cabinet works to be a good steward of these federal monies and see to it that a safer commonwealth is created for future generations through the services it funds.”

Funds also support advocacy efforts for victims of domestic or sexual violence, civil legal aid, services for children and families affected by physical or sexual abuse and Court-Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) services. State agencies, local units of government and private not-for-profit organizations may apply for these funds. The application, which is available on the Justice and Public Safety Cabinet’s website, offers additional information on which services and organizations qualify for funding.

The funds allocated to Kentucky from the Office for Victims of Crime, a component of the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of Justice Programs, are part of the Victims of Crime Act program. In 1984, Congress passed the Victims of Crime Act, which established the Crime Victim’s Fund and today supports thousands of local victim assistance programs and victim compensation programs in every state, the District of Columbia and the U.S. territories.

VOCA funds are replenished each year through fines, forfeited bail bonds, penalties and special assessments collected from federal offenders by U.S. Attorneys’ offices, federal U.S. courts and the Federal Bureau of Prisons. No tax money supports the Crime Victim’s Fund.

Applications are due by May 17, and awards are expected to be announced in September. Assistance with the application process may be obtained by contacting grants management staff at JUSIGX@ky.gov.

Applications must be submitted online via Intelligrants 10.0 (IGX), the Justice and Public Safety Cabinet's electronic Grants Management System. New applicants will be required to establish an account and become familiar with the system well in advance of the due date. Applicants should also note that validating a new user account requires 48 to 72 hours. Applicants must also possess a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) from the federal System for Award Management at sam.gov in order to be eligible to receive a VOCA award.

The Beshear-Coleman administration has awarded more than $133 million in grant funding to victim service agencies across the commonwealth since taking office.

Today’s announcement follows the Governor signing House Bill 207 into law last month strengthening the language in statute to include other forms of abuse and sexual exploitation of minors.

In Nov., the Governor announced that, to improve outcomes for survivors, the executive, judicial and legislative branches, as well as the Kentucky State Police, Department of Corrections, Administrative Office of the Courts, the Justice and Public Safety Cabinet’s Criminal Justice Statistical Analysis Center and ZeroV are partnering with the CSG Justice Center. This is the council’s largest statewide domestic violence data project. The group will analyze domestic violence data and then make policy recommendations to improve services and prevent victimization. This project is expected to be completed by the end of 2024 at no cost to Kentuckians.

In Oct., Gov. Beshear announced that a $2.5 million U.S. Department of Justice grant has been awarded to Kentucky to further assist law enforcement in bringing justice to victims of sexual assault. This year’s funding is the second-largest award in the history of the commonwealth from the department’s Bureau of Justice Assistance.

The Beshear-Coleman administration awarded nearly $27 million in September, which included $10 million of funding from the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 to help offset the reduction in federal funding for VOCA grants.

Last year, the Governor signed Senate Bill 271 and House Bill 535, requiring the collection and analysis of data related to domestic violence in the commonwealth, including domestic violence fatalities, domestic violence shelter use and reports of child abuse. In June, the Beshear-Coleman administration compiled the first statewide data report on domestic violence statistics.