• FY 2011 Budget
• Crime Victims Fund Preservation Act
• Lockbox

FY2011 Budget: The Obama Administration is proposing a FY 2011 VOCA cap of $800 million but would greatly expand earmarks for Federal positions and discretionary funding which will lower the amount that would otherwise be available for state VOCA victim assistance formula grants. Details are here.

U.S. Senate Recognizes VOCA's 25th Anniversary
On Thursday, January 21, 2010 the U.S. Senate unanimously adopted Senate Resolution 391 which commemorates the 25th anniversary of the Victims of Crime Act and the creation of the Crime Victims Fund.  The Senate Resolution was introduced by Senators Mike Crapo (R-ID) and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN).  The resolution notes the direct victim assistance provided by VOCA funded agencies, state crime victim compensation programs and services to victims of Federal crimes as well as the contributions to the Crime Victims Fund through efforts of the United States Attorneys offices and other DOJ components. [Read S. Res. 391][Sen. Crapo Press Release]

IMPORTANT VOCA NEWS

"Crime Victims Fund Preservation Act of 2009
On Thursday, July 30, 2009, Representatives Ted Poe (R-TX) and Jim Costa (D-CA), co-chairs of the Congressional Crime Victim Rights Caucus, introduced H.R. 3402, "The Crime Victims Fund Preservation Act of 2009."  This is a companion to S. 1340, introduced in June by Senators Patrick Leahy (D-VT) and Mike Crapo (R-ID) which would ensure a continued and substantial increase the the amount of Crime Victims Fund to be made available to support critical crime victim services.  The Crime Victims Fund Preservation Act would establish a minimum VOCA cap through 2014 and still leave a substantial balance in the Fund to ensure ongoing stable services.

Both bills specify the minimum amount of the Crime Victims Fund to be allocated in FY 2010 at $705 million and then increases the cap by 23 percent for each of the next four years. By FY 2014, the VOCA cap would be $1.6 billion, an amount that is essential to help meet victims' needs.

According to Sen. Leahy, chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee and a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, "This bill will support the intent of Congress to use revenues generated from criminal fines and forfeitures to provide direct services and compensation to crime victims,”

Sen. Crapo said, "We expect a steady increase over the next five years in this fund and I will aggressively work to make sure these resources go to the people for which they were originally intended. Unfortunately, victims of violence nationwide remain significantly underserved. Congress needs to honor the commitment it made to these victims 25 years ago.

State VOCA Assistance Administrators . . .

SAVE THE DATE: The 2010 VOCA National Training Conference for state VOCA victim assistance administrative agencies will be held at the Hyatt Regency Dearborn, MI, September 14 - 16, 2010 (travel day Monday, September 13, 2010). Check here for more information.