Federal crime‑victim fund volatility is shrinking victim‑service grants, presenter tells commission

Summary

An official from the judicial branch’s Office of Victim Services told the commission that the federal Crime Victim Fund and VOCA assistance grants are highly volatile, driven by a small number of very large settlements, and that Connecticut has relied on ARPA and state support to stabilize service funding.

Mark, a representative of the Judicial Branch Office of Victim Services, told the commission that federal deposits are the main driver of the Crime Victim Fund and that a handful of large settlements determine year‑to‑year grant levels. “It's a small number of these cases that drive the volume. And that's the, the unfortunate part,” he said.

The presentation explained why VOCA (Victims of Crime Act) assistance — the part of the Crime Victim Fund that pays for direct services — has been both a “bedrock” of victim services and highly unpredictable. Mark said VOCA assistance makes up the largest portion of grants from the fund and that states receive allocations proportionate to population.

Why it matters: Connecticut and other states rely on VOCA assistance for services such as victim compensation, crisis intervention, case management and legal assistance. Sudden drops in federal VOCA awards can threaten nonprofit and…

Federal crime‑victim fund volatility is shrinking victim‑service grants, presenter tells commission

Summary

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