FAQs: Victim Advocacy
FAQ List:
What is the difference between compensation and restitution?
Restitution is court-ordered and compensation is provided by the Victim Compensation Program in each...
Read More
Last updated:
04/27/2012
How do I add my program/organization to the Online Directory of Crime Victim Services?
Please visit the Get Posted section of the Office for Victims of Crime (OVC) Online Directory of Cri...
Read More
Last updated:
07/23/2010
What is victim assistance?
Each year, states and territories receive Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) funds to support community-bas...
Read More
Last updated:
01/13/2012
What is the Online Directory of Crime Victim Services?
The Online Directory of Crime Victim Services is a Web-enabled, online resource sponsored by the Off...
Read More
Last updated:
07/23/2010
What types of assistance are available to me as a crime victim?
Assistance for victims of crime is available through financial reimbursement and victim services fro...
Read More
Last updated:
11/30/2012
What is the role of the Community Relations Service (CRS) of the U.S. Department of Justice?
The Community Relations Service (CRS) is the U.S. Department of Justice's "peacemaker" for community...
Read More
Last updated:
01/05/2012
How can I sign up for the Office for Victims of Crime (OVC) Training and Technical Assistance Center (TTAC) listserv?
To sign up for the Office for Victims of Crime (OVC) Training and Technical Assistance Center (TTAC)...
Read More
Last updated:
07/23/2010
Does OVC offer online training?
Yes. OVC offers two online trainings. Victim Assistance Training Online is a basic victim advocacy w...
Read More
Last updated:
07/22/2010
What is the National Victim Assistance Academy (NVAA)?
The National Victim Assistance Academy (NVAA) is an education and training classroom experience for ...
Read More
Last updated:
07/22/2010
Does OVC offer trainings?
OVC offers practical skill-building sessions through its Trainings Catalog and a National Victim Ass...
Read More
Last updated:
07/22/2010
What OVC resources are available to states developing State Victim Assistance Academies (SVAAs)?
OVC offers technical assistance through its Training and Technical Assistance Center (OVC TTAC) to b...
Read More
Last updated:
07/22/2010
When may I submit my nomination for the National Crime Victims' Service Awards?
The nomination period is now closed. Nominations were due by September 5, 2012. For more information...
Read More
Last updated:
09/26/2012
When will the National Crime Victims' Service Award recipients be announced?
The recipients are announced each year at the National Crime Victims' Service Awards Ceremony. OVC s...
Read More
Last updated:
07/22/2010
What are the terms of the National Crime Victims' Service Award?
The nominee authorizes OVC or its agent to conduct a background check and agrees to participate in a...
Read More
Last updated:
07/22/2010
What is considered a National Crime Victims' Service Award group nomination?
Please submit a group nomination if you are interested in nominating a group of individuals who work...
Read More
Last updated:
07/22/2010
Will each member of the National Crime Victims' Service Award winning team or group award receive an award plaque?
No. Only one award plaque will be given to a group. If you are nominating a group of individuals for...
Read More
Last updated:
07/22/2010
Is the person I'm nominating eligible to receive an award?
Please review the Eligibility Requirements and the questions that should be addressed in your Nomina...
Read More
Last updated:
07/22/2010
What is OVC?
Created in 1983, the Office for Victims of Crime (OVC) is a federal office within the U.S. Departmen...
Read More
Last updated:
04/27/2012
Can a victim apply directly to OVC for funding?
Yes. Under the International Terrorism Victim Expense Reimbursement Program (ITVERP), a U.S. nationa...
Read More
Last updated:
07/22/2010
Do you provide information on related trainings offered by other organizations?
OVC offers a national events calendar to which organizations may add their events, including trainin...
Read More
Last updated:
07/22/2010
What kind of information about the nominator do you need?
OVC needs the nominator's personal contact, including their mailing address, e-mail address, and tel...
Read More
Last updated:
07/23/2010
May I nominate a candidate for multiple awards?
No. You may not nominate the same individuals, programs, organizations, teams, or coalition of indiv...
Read More
Last updated:
07/23/2010
The candidate I nominated last year did not receive an award. May I nominate this person again?
Yes. Candidates nominated, but not selected, in previous years are eligible for consideration. Previ...
Read More
Last updated:
07/23/2010
Am I responsible for submitting all of the nominee's pertinent information?
No. As a nominator, you are only required to complete the nominator's section of the online form, wh...
Read More
Last updated:
07/23/2010
Should I fill out a separate nomination form for each individual in the nominated group?
If you are nominating a group of individuals who work on a specific project, you are required to fil...
Read More
Last updated:
07/23/2010
What is the difference between the nominee name and the plaque name?
The nominee name should be the full name of the person you wish to nominate for an award. If the nom...
Read More
Last updated:
07/23/2010
Why does the nominee have to fill out the rest of the nomination form?
By logging in and completing the remaining part of the nomination form, the nominee is acknowledging...
Read More
Last updated:
07/23/2010
Can I save my nomination and return later to submit it?
No. For this reason, please review all submission guidelines and compose your nomination letter and ...
Read More
Last updated:
07/23/2010
How do I attach supporting documents to the nomination form?
After you fill out the required fields, you can attach documents to support your submission. All sup...
Read More
Last updated:
07/23/2010
How will the nominee know they also need to fill out information?
After you make your submission—which should include the nominee's e-mail address—an automatic notifi...
Read More
Last updated:
07/23/2010
Will OVC notify the nominee if he or she is not selected for an award?
Yes. If a nominee is not selected to move forward through the tiered review process, OVC will send n...
Read More
Last updated:
07/23/2010
Will OVC notify me when my nomination is received?
Yes. You will receive an automated reply confirming your successful submission....
Read More
Last updated:
07/23/2010
Why will the selected nominee's Social Security number be requested?
A member of the OVC staff will contact the selected nominee for their date of birth and Social Secur...
Read More
Last updated:
07/23/2010
Who is allowed on stage to accept the award during the National Crime Victims' Service Awards Ceremony?
Only those individuals who were included in the nomination package and passed a background check wil...
Read More
Last updated:
07/23/2010
What is OVC's mission?
The mission of OVC is to enhance the Nation's capacity to assist crime victims and to provide leader...
Read More
Last updated:
07/29/2010
Does OVC provide direct services for victims of crime?
Yes. OVC provides direct services to people victimized on Tribal or federal lands, such as military ...
Read More
Last updated:
07/29/2010
How do I apply for a job with OVC?
OVC employment opportunities are posted to the Jobs & Fellowships section of the OVC site when avail...
Read More
Last updated:
07/23/2010
What is a State Victim Assistance Academy?
A State Victim Assistance Academy (SVAA) is a week-long, intensive foundation course of study in vic...
Read More
Last updated:
07/23/2010
How did SVAAs get their start?
To fulfill its long-term goal of encouraging victim assistance courses of study across the country, ...
Read More
Last updated:
07/23/2010
Which states currently operate SVAAs?
Information on which states operate SVAAs can be found on the SVAA Locator section of our site....
Read More
Last updated:
07/23/2010
How can I start a State Victim Assistance Academy (SVAA) in my state?
OVC encourages state Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) Administrators to help fund Academies using VOCA ad...
Read More
Last updated:
07/23/2010
What is the Antiterrorism and Emergency Assistance Grant Program?
The Office for Victims of Crime (OVC) administers the Antiterrorism and Emergency Assistance Progra...
Read More
Last updated:
07/23/2010
Can I access the National Crime Victims' Rights Week (NCVRW) Resource Guide online?
The National Crime Victims' Rights Week (NCVRW) Resource Guide, as well as additional information an...
Read More
Last updated:
02/22/2011
How can I find the biographies of past National Crime Victims' Rights Week (NCVRW) award recipients?
Information pertaining to National Crime Victims' Rights Week (NCVRW), including past award recipien...
Read More
Last updated:
07/23/2010
What is the OVC Web Forum for Victim Service Providers?
The Office for Victims of Crime (OVC) HELP for Victim Service Providers message board provides victi...
Read More
Last updated:
07/23/2010
How can I order the National Crime Victims' Rights Week (NCVRW) Resource Guide and Poster?
The 2013 National Crime Victims' Rights Week (NCVRW) Resource Guide (NCJ 239229) and Poster (PS00002...
Read More
Last updated:
01/09/2013
Is it possible to receive a set of the Office for Victims of Crime (OVC) Voices of Victims videos?
The Voices of Victims videos listed below are no longer available to order:
Voices of Victims:...
Read More
Last updated:
03/16/2012
Am I able to order ribbons from the Office for Victims of Crime (OVC) for National Crime Victims' Rights Week (NCVRW)?
Ribbons for NCVRW are not available to order from OVC. Please visit the NCVRW section of our Web sit...
Read More
Last updated:
07/23/2010
When will National Crime Victims' Rights Week (NCVRW) be observed in 2014?
National Crime Victims' Rights Week (NCVRW) will be observed April 6-12, 2014.
To learn more ab...
Read More
Last updated:
05/14/2013
How much money does each state receive to provide victim compensation?
The amount of money appropriated to each state for victim compensation is available from the Crime V...
Read More
Last updated:
07/29/2010
I am a member of the military and have been a victim of crime. Where can I go for assistance?
Each military department has established an interdisciplinary Victim and Witness Assistance Council ...
Read More
Last updated:
05/08/2013
Do taxpayer dollars contribute to the Crime Victims Fund?
To date, Crime Victims Fund (Fund) dollars have always come from offenders convicted of federal crim...
Read More
Last updated:
04/27/2012
Who is eligible for victim compensation?
Victim compensation eligibility is determined by each State Victim Compensation Program. For addit...
Read More
Last updated:
09/22/2010
How can I order OVC publications and products?
Many OVC publications and products are available in hardcopy and can be ordered from the National Cr...
Read More
Last updated:
04/10/2013
Is information available on what can be done to help children who have been witnesses to violence?
To view publications and other resources related to the treatment of children who have been exposed ...
Read More
Last updated:
11/30/2012
Is official information on AMBER Alerts or the AMBER Alert program available on any social networking sites?
Facebook offers subscribers notification of AMBER Alerts in their geographical areas. To receive AMB...
Read More
Last updated:
09/02/2011
How can I learn about effective victim service programs?
Created by the Office of Justice Programs, the CrimeSolutions.gov Web site uses rigorous research to...
Read More
Last updated:
11/30/2012
How can I view the Office for Victims of Crime (OVC) product entitled Listen to My Story: Communicating with Victims of Crime (Video and Guidebook), NCJ 195655?
Listen to My Story: Communicating with Victims of Crime (Video and Guidebook) is now available as pa...
Read More
Last updated:
09/09/2011
How can I view the Office for Victims of Crime (OVC) product entitled Meeting the Needs of Underserved Victims (Video and Guidebook), NCJ 195656?
Meeting the Needs of Underserved Victims (Video and Guidebook) is now available as part of the Offic...
Read More
Last updated:
09/09/2011
How can I view the Office for Victims of Crime (OVC) product entitled Substance Abuse and Victimization (Video and Guidebook), NCJ 204552?
Substance Abuse and Victimization (Video and Guidebook) is now available as part of the Office for V...
Read More
Last updated:
09/09/2011
What resources are available to assist in locating missing adults?
If you have not yet contacted the law enforcement regarding this matter, please do so immediately. F...
Read More
Last updated:
11/14/2011
What resources are available to assist in locating missing children?
If you have not yet contacted the law enforcement regarding this matter, please do so immediately. A...
Read More
Last updated:
11/14/2011
Who can I contact to help me develop a safety plan?
If your local police department employs a victim advocate, he/she maybe able to help you develop a s...
Read More
Last updated:
11/13/2012
Are there support groups for the families of homicide victims?
Yes. For information regarding support groups in your area, please contact Parents of Murdered Child...
Read More
Last updated:
11/22/2011
What types of victimization qualify for compensation?
The Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) specifically requires compensation to crime victims and survivors of...
Read More
Last updated:
09/13/2012
What types of expenses are crime victims compensated for?
According to the Victim Compensation Program Guidelines, at a minimum, the Victims of Crime Act (VO...
Read More
Last updated:
09/13/2012
What is victim compensation?
All states and territories receive funding from Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) funds from the Office f...
Read More
Last updated:
09/14/2012
|
|
