VOCA Compensation and Assistance Statistics

OVC administers two Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) formula grant programs that support crime victim compensation and assistance—the cornerstone of support for victims throughout the Nation. These programs account for approximately 87 percent of the VOCA funds that OVC allocates annually. VOCA funding also supports victim-witness coordinators in U.S. Attorneys’ Offices, victim specialists with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Federal Victim Notification System, and formula grants to states through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, as provided by the Children's Justice Act. Additionally, OVC’s Children’s Justice Act Partnerships for Indian Communities Program provides comprehensive and coordinated multidisciplinary responses to child abuse victims and their families in ways that are trauma-informed and culturally competent. OVC also awards discretionary grants in various program areas to meet emerging needs and fill gaps in existing services.

Compensation Statistics

Click to view exhibit 3

Click to view exhibit 4

Click to view exhibit 5

Click to view exhibit 6

Click to view exhibit 7

• In FYs 2013 and 2014, state compensation payments to 275,470 victims throughout the Nation totaled $751,015,672 (exhibit 3), an amount that includes both federal and state funding.
• The majority of victims whose crime-related expenses were reimbursed were victims of assault (132,210), child abuse (50,216)—including sexual and physical abuse—and homicide (29,369) (exhibit 3).
• Costs related to medical and dental care accounted for 51 percent of the total expenses reimbursed, followed by costs associated with lost income and wages (13 percent) and funeral and burial expenses (11 percent) (exhibit 4).
• Victims of domestic violence accounted for nearly 41 percent of the total assault and homicide victim claims that were reimbursed during FYs 2013 and 2014 (exhibit 3).
• The average compensation payout per claim during the reporting period was approximately $2,950 (VOCA National Performance Reports).

Assistance Statistics

• In FYs 2013 and 2014, a total of 7,056,986 crime victims benefited from $655,441,166 in VOCA-funded assistance throughout the Nation (exhibit 5; VOCA National Performance Reports).
• Victims of domestic violence, who numbered 3,254,926, accounted for 46 percent of victims who received assistance during the reporting period (exhibit 5).
• Victims of child physical and sexual abuse numbered 1,153,176 (364,314 and 788,862, respectively), accounting for 16 percent of crime victims receiving assistance—second only to victims of domestic violence (exhibit 5).
• Other types of crimes resulting in a marked percentage of victims receiving assistance in FYs 2013 and 2014 included assault (8 percent), adult sexual assault (6 percent), and robbery (5 percent) (exhibit 5).
• Approximately 4,567,622 victims received telephone information and referral assistance following their victimization in FYs 2013 and 2014; an additional 3,988,352 victims received advocacy and support through the criminal justice system (exhibit 6).
• Other assistance, provided to almost 7 million victims each year of the reporting period, included onsite information referrals, followup, crisis counseling, personal advocacy, and help in filing compensation claims (exhibit 6).
• VOCA assistance grants supported 29,499,040 specific services to 7,056,986 victims of crime in FYs 2013 and 2014. Many individuals need more than one type of assistance in the aftermath of victimization. During the reporting period, each victim received an average of 4.2 services, according to state-provided statistics (exhibit 7).