Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) Assistance Funding
Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) Assistance Funding
What does this solve?
Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) victim assistance funds are federal funds that can be used to support services for victims and survivors of gun violence. Many of the services eligible for VOCA victim assistance funds are already being provided by gun violence intervention programs, such as street outreach and hospital-based violence intervention programs. VOCA victim assistance grants should be used to help reduce gun violence and support gun violence survivors.
Local community-based organizations are in need of more funding to provide responsive services to victims of gun violence. These organizations have been delivering these critical services for years, healing families and communities while preventing future gun violence.
Which states have targeted solicitations to use federal Victims of Crime Act funds for gun violence intervention or victim services funding?
9 states have adopted this policy
Funding for Services for Victims of Gun Violence
Alabama has not adopted this policy
Funding for Services for Victims of Gun Violence
Alaska has not adopted this policy
Funding for Services for Victims of Gun Violence
Arizona has not adopted this policy
Funding for Services for Victims of Gun Violence
Arkansas has not adopted this policy
Funding for Services for Victims of Gun Violence
California has adopted this policy
Funding for Services for Victims of Gun Violence
Colorado has not adopted this policy
Funding for Services for Victims of Gun Violence
Connecticut has adopted this policy
Funding for Services for Victims of Gun Violence
Delaware has not adopted this policy
Funding for Services for Victims of Gun Violence
Florida has not adopted this policy
Funding for Services for Victims of Gun Violence
Georgia has not adopted this policy
Funding for Services for Victims of Gun Violence
Hawaii has not adopted this policy
Funding for Services for Victims of Gun Violence
Idaho has not adopted this policy
Funding for Services for Victims of Gun Violence
Illinois has adopted this policy
Funding for Services for Victims of Gun Violence
Indiana has adopted this policy
Funding for Services for Victims of Gun Violence
Iowa has adopted this policy
Funding for Services for Victims of Gun Violence
Kansas has not adopted this policy
Funding for Services for Victims of Gun Violence
Kentucky has not adopted this policy
Funding for Services for Victims of Gun Violence
Louisiana has not adopted this policy
Funding for Services for Victims of Gun Violence
Maine has not adopted this policy
Funding for Services for Victims of Gun Violence
Maryland has not adopted this policy
Funding for Services for Victims of Gun Violence
Massachusetts has not adopted this policy
Funding for Services for Victims of Gun Violence
Michigan has not adopted this policy
Funding for Services for Victims of Gun Violence
Minnesota has not adopted this policy
Funding for Services for Victims of Gun Violence
Mississippi has not adopted this policy
Funding for Services for Victims of Gun Violence
Missouri has not adopted this policy
Funding for Services for Victims of Gun Violence
Montana has not adopted this policy
Funding for Services for Victims of Gun Violence
Nebraska has not adopted this policy
Funding for Services for Victims of Gun Violence
Nevada has not adopted this policy
Funding for Services for Victims of Gun Violence
New Hampshire has not adopted this policy
Funding for Services for Victims of Gun Violence
New Jersey has adopted this policy
Funding for Services for Victims of Gun Violence
New Mexico has not adopted this policy
Funding for Services for Victims of Gun Violence
New York has adopted this policy
Funding for Services for Victims of Gun Violence
North Carolina has not adopted this policy
Funding for Services for Victims of Gun Violence
North Dakota has not adopted this policy
Funding for Services for Victims of Gun Violence
Ohio has adopted this policy
Funding for Services for Victims of Gun Violence
Oklahoma has not adopted this policy
Funding for Services for Victims of Gun Violence
Oregon has not adopted this policy
Funding for Services for Victims of Gun Violence
Pennsylvania has not adopted this policy
Funding for Services for Victims of Gun Violence
Rhode Island has not adopted this policy
Funding for Services for Victims of Gun Violence
South Carolina has not adopted this policy
Funding for Services for Victims of Gun Violence
South Dakota has not adopted this policy
Funding for Services for Victims of Gun Violence
Tennessee has not adopted this policy
Funding for Services for Victims of Gun Violence
Texas has not adopted this policy
Funding for Services for Victims of Gun Violence
Utah has not adopted this policy
Funding for Services for Victims of Gun Violence
Vermont has not adopted this policy
Funding for Services for Victims of Gun Violence
Virginia has adopted this policy
Funding for Services for Victims of Gun Violence
Washington has not adopted this policy
Funding for Services for Victims of Gun Violence
West Virginia has not adopted this policy
Funding for Services for Victims of Gun Violence
Wisconsin has not adopted this policy
Funding for Services for Victims of Gun Violence
Wyoming has not adopted this policy
How it Works
Local community-based organizations are in need of more funding.
VOCA victim assistance grants can be used to fund community-based organizations providing services to gun violence victims and survivors. However, historically, VOCA victim assistance funds have not been granted to services focused on gun violence victims and survivors. VOCA victim assistance funding can and should be utilized to support services to gun violence victims and to help stem cycles of violence. States and cities can be proactive in directing VOCA victim assistance funds to gun violence victim services.
Among the gun violence intervention services eligible for victim assistance funding are hospital-based violence intervention programs, street outreach programs, and trauma recovery centers.
By the numbers
$225M
$225 million could be unlocked for victims of gun violence if all 50 states committed ten percent of their 2019 VOCA victim assistance funds to gun violence victim services.
37%
A 2019 federal audit of state spending found that, in aggregate, states had failed to spend 37 percent of 2016 VOCA victim assistance allocations.
Myth & Fact
Myth
VOCA victim assistance grants cannot be used to support gun violence intervention programs.
Fact
Featured Resources
Navigating the VOCA Funding Process
Crime Victim Compensation: Financial Assistance after a Crime
Hurdles to Healing: Fixing Victim Compensation Funds
Victim compensation funds are available to survivors of gun violence, but obstacles and restrictions make the funds difficult to access
All Resources
Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) Assistance Funding
All Resources
Hospital-Based Violence Intervention Programs: A Guide to Implementation and Costing
“Not every injured person is reflected in a police report—but they are coming to the emergency department. Crisis resources especially have…
Fact Sheet
The Changing Demographics of Gun Homicide Victims and How Community Violence Intervention Programs Can Help
As we approach summer, it is crucial that community violence intervention programs are accessible and tailored to those most affected.
Everytown Research & PolicyBeyond Measure: Gun Violence Trauma
This study focuses on trauma from gun violence by listening to the voices and experiences of those directly impacted.
Report
Summer Youth Employment Programs for Violence Prevention: A Guide to Implementation and Costing
Investing in an SYEP is a cost-effective way to help prevent violence in cities.
Fact Sheet
Gun Violence Survivors in America
This survey explores the breadth of gun violence in America and how it impacts survivors.
Report
Sobrevivientes de violencia con armas de fuego en los Estados Unidos
Esta encuesta explora la amplitud de la violencia con armas de fuego en los Estados Unidos y su impacto en los sobrevivientes.
Report
When the Shooting Stops: The Impact of Gun Violence on Survivors in America
The trauma of gun violence doesn’t end when the shooting stops. Experiencing gun violence has a lasting impact on survivors.
Report
Cuando el tiroteo se detiene: El impacto de la violencia con armas de fuego en los sobrevivientes de los Estados Unidos
El trauma de la violencia con armas de fuego no termina cuando se detiene el tiroteo.
Report
Funding Summer Youth Programming Prevents Gun Violence
As cities develop their spending plan for American Rescue Plan funds, they should prioritize and plan funding for summer youth engagement.
Fact SheetCommunity-Led Services for Survivors
Community-led services can assist survivors by responding to incidents of gun violence in their community and providing ongoing care.
Fact Sheet
A Deadly Year in Cities — And How Policymakers Can Respond
While the long term effects of COVID-19 still aren’t fully clear, it is evident that cities have experienced historic levels of violence.
Fact Sheet
Community-Led Public Safety Strategies
Communities affected by gun violence need immediate and locally driven interventions in addition to larger scale policy reform.
Fact SheetA Fund for Healing: VOCA Grants for Violence Reduction
America’s gun homicide rate is tragic and unique—it is 26 times higher than that of other high-income countries.1…
ReportGuns and Violence Against Women: America’s Uniquely Lethal Intimate Partner Violence Problem
Laws keeping guns out of the hands of abusers are associated with lower rates of violence against women and intimate partner homicides.
Report
City Gun Violence Reduction Insight Portal
CityGRIP is an online clearinghouse of data-informed gun violence reduction strategies.
Data Tracker
Five Ways to Enhance the Gun Violence Prevention Strategy in Your City
Cities that have sustained success preventing gun violence have deployed multi-disciplinary, community-involved approaches to response and prevention. Below are five steps that you can take…
Fact Sheet