Victims of Crime Act

Background

The Crime Victims Fund (CVF) was created by Congress in 1984 to provide Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) grants to state, territorial, and local programs that assist victims of crime. CVF funding is non-taxpayer money generated by fines and penalties from federal prosecutions and non-prosecution and deferred prosecution agreements. VOCA funds lifesaving services to over six million victims of all types of crimes annually through almost 6,500 direct service organizations, such as domestic violence shelters, rape crisis centers, and child abuse treatment programs.

The CVF is in Drastic Decline

Deposits to the CVF began shrinking considerably in the past few years and, as a result, Congress has had to reduce VOCA grants to states and territories. Local VOCA-funded programs have been experiencing massive cuts in victim services funding. From FY23 to FY24, funds were reduced by around $600 million, causing an average 40% cut to state and territorial victim assistance grants, compounding cuts from FY22 and FY21. A 40% cut is forcing victim service programs to reduce or eliminate services, lay off staff, and, in some cases, close their doors. As a result, countless victims in crisis will not be able to find help. (See here for a list of cuts by state/territory.)

States and territories need a steady stream of funding that can be relied on consistently. Cuts jeopardize survivors’ safety.

The Crime Victims Stabilization Act (H.R. 8061/S.4514)

Introduced in the House by Representatives Ann Wagner (R-MO), Debbie Dingell (D-MI), Stephanie Bice (R-OK), Jim Costa (D-CA), and Nathaniel Moran (R-TX), and in the Senate by Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), the Crime Victims Fund Stabilization Act directly addresses this problem by directing excess funds collected through the False Claims Act (FCA) into the CVF through FY29. 

• The FCA authorizes the federal government to hold entities that knowingly defraud government agencies liable for up to three times the monetary damages. Over the past two fiscal years, settlements and judgments under the FCA have totaled nearly $5 billion.
• The FCA requires that a portion of the damages collected are first repaid to the defrauded government agency and relevant whistleblowers. Excess funds remain unobligated. The Crime Victims Fund Stabilization Act would only redirect these excess, unobligated funds to the CVF, ensuring that payments to whistleblowers and defrauded government agencies will not be affected.
• This temporary infusion of resources will help stabilize the CVF, maintaining a non-taxpayer source of funding for victim services. More importantly, this legislation will give victim assistance programs the support necessary to keep their doors open and help address the recent catastrophic cuts to VOCA funding.

Congress must support and pass the Crime Victims Fund Stabilization Act (H.R.8061/S.4514) to provide lifesaving services to survivors.

FY25 Federal Appropriations Requests

Congress must provide steady funding in FY25:

• Provide $1.9 billion in steady funding from the CVF, restoring funding to FY23 levels.
• Support a continued federal funding stream from VOCA for tribes. Individuals on tribal lands experience disproportionately high rates of domestic and sexual violence and need funding for victim services.
• Reject proposals that use the VOCA fund to pay for other Department of Justice programs since that reduces funding for direct victim services.