Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) Crime Victims Fund-amentals 2009 Budget

Parents of Murdered Children

What is the Crime Victims Fund?  Created in 1984 as revenue source for the Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) to support state victim assistance and crime victim compensation.  Separate account; self-sufficient.  Paid entirely by Federal criminal offenders; no taxpayer dollars.  Only Federal funding for direct services to victims of all types of crimes.

Unlike other programs…  Permanent authorization, no sunset.  Continuing appropriation.  Cap on Fund delays amounts otherwise available for obligation.  Unobligated amounts remain in Fund for future victim services.

How Crime Victims Fund works… Services Year OneYear Two Crime Victims Fund

VOCA Program Areas  State Compensation Formula Grants (1984)  State Victim Assistance Formula Grants (1984)  OVC Discretionary Grants (1984)  Children’s Justice Act (1986)  U.S. Attorneys’ Victim/Witness (2000)  FBI Victim Assistance Specialists (2001)  Federal Victim Notification System (2002)  Antiterrorism Emergency Reserve (1996; 2001)  OJP Offices; OAAM, CCDO (2006)  OJP Management & Administration (2008) Services

State Victim Assistance Grants 56 jurisdictions grant: base $+ % pop. 4,400 public and nonprofit agencies… provide direct victim assistance services… to 3.8 million victims of all types of crimes each year. crisis intervention and counseling support groups and therapy/treatment emergency shelter Information/referral and hotlines legal advocacy and emergency financial assist. criminal justice system (case status/disposition information, restitution assistance) personal advocacy and case management

Fund Deposits/Caps = $9 Billion Est. FY 09 Opening Balance $1.9 Billion

2009 Budget Request  Rescinds $2.024 billion.  Sets cap at $590 million.  Includes $50 million Antiterrorism Emergency Reserve “under the cap.”  Transforms Fund from special account into revenue-offset account.

$2.024 billion Rescission  Opening balance, 2009 (“rainy day” balance)$1,904  plus amounts to be collected during ,614  less new budget authority (cap) -590  less rescission-2,024  Opening balance, What happens in 2010?

VOCA Allocation Sequence Under the cap (2008 estimate)$590.0 OJP Management & Administration – 5.5%32.5 OJP Office of Audit, Assessment and Management – 1.5%8.9 Children’s Justice Act20.0 U.S. Atty’s Victim/Witness Coord.25.2 FBI Victim Assistance Specialists13.1 Federal Victim Notification System5.5 Of amounts remaining:454.8 OVC Discretionary Grants – 5%24.2 State Compensation Grants - 60% of previous year’s state-funded payout ($285.5m)171.3 State Victim Assistance Grants - whatever’s left over! Above the Cap (except 2009 request) Antiterrorism Emergency Reserve – ($50m); replenished with up to 5% of fund balance after other allocations.

VOCA Program Funding $625 $254 $371 $590 $301 $ est. $ $229 $396 Cap Other VOCA Programs/ OJP Costs State Victim Assistance Grants $770* $374 $ est. In millions * Includes $ 50 million AER $590* $354 $ Request

VOCA Program Funding $625 $254 $371 $590 $301 $ est. $ $229 $396 Cap Other VOCA Programs/ OJP Costs State Victim Assistance Grants $770* $374 $ est. In millions * Includes $ 50 million AER $590* $354 $ Request VOCA Victim Assistance Grants cut by $159 million (40%) since 2006 VOCA Victim Assistance Grants cut by $159 million (40%) since 2006

Fund Availability $1.3b

Restore VOCA Assistance  $770 million cap = FY 2006 state victim assistance grants. $717 million cap, if AER kept above the cap. $677 million cap, if OJP M&A direct appropriation ($32.4 million).  Money already collected from Federal offenders and kept in Fund to maintain stable funding for victim services.  Does not include increases in: Crime rates. Demands for services. Types of crimes (e.g. stalking, human trafficking, identity theft, etc.). Costs of operations (e.g. gas, heat/utilities, stamps, etc.).  Direct funding for state victim assistance grants.

What Cut Means…  Some will turn away victims needing services.  Some will lose staff.  Some programs will close entirely.

Steve Derene tel: web: