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Crime Victimization

  • Publications (311)
  • Resources (241)
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  • FAQs (62)
  • Funding (1)
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OVC and OVC-Sponsored Publications

Assistance For U.S. Citizen Victims of Crime Abroad (2019) OVC-Sponsored, 2 pages, NCJ 253770.
This brochure provides information on the services that the U.S. Department of State can provide to U.S. citizens who become victims of crime while abroad. The brochure was created by the U.S. Department of State with support from the Office for Victims of Crime.
Abstract | PDF
 
What We Know About Identity Theft and Fraud Victims From Research- and Practice-Based Evidence (August 2019) OVC-Sponsored, 36 pages, NCJ 253627.
This report compiles research about identity theft and fraud victimization. The report covers research on topics including the prevalence of identity theft and fraud; risk and protective factors; and prevention, intervention, and victim services.
Abstract | PDF
 
Elder Abuse Fatality Review Teams: A Replication Manual (June 2019) OVC-Sponsored, Grant, 201 pages, NCJ 210901.
Elder abuse fatality review teams review deaths caused by or related to elder abuse and can improve the response of community agencies to elder abuse victims. This publication, created with funding support from OVC, provides guidance to communities interested in establishing similar teams. This document was updated in June 2019 to include information on the criteria and selection of cases for review, confidentiality practices, preventing "blame and shame," and a comparison of 27 categories of professionals serving as team members. It is available electronically from American Bar Association Commission on Law and Aging (www.americanbar.org/groups/law_aging/resources/elder_abuse/elder-abuse-fatality-review-team-projects-and-resources).
Abstract | PDF | HTML
 
Advancing the Implementation of Effective, Survivor-Driven Advocacy (May 2019) OVC-Sponsored, Grant, 38 pages, NCJ 253514.
This publication describes a project which seeks to 1) enhance the quality of advocacy for domestic violence survivors and their children provided by a domestic violence program, Courage Connection, 2) increase Courage Connection’s capacity to engage in ongoing evaluation of their service delivery efforts, and 3) generate research knowledge about the conditions in which effective survivor-centered advocacy services are implemented in a domestic violence program setting.
Abstract | PDF
 
Research Brief: Identity Theft and Fraud (March 2019) OVC-Sponsored, 6 pages, NCJ 252720.
This fact sheet provides a comprehensive review of research on identity theft and fraud. The research brief describes services available to victims and important areas where field needs to grow.
Abstract | PDF
 

OJP Publications

Victim Service Providers in the United States, 2017 (November 2019) BJS, NCJ 252648.
This report provides statistics from the National Census of Victim Service Providers, the first national data collection on the number and characteristics of these organizations. The report describes the types of organizations that serve victims, maps their locations, and reports on the rate of victim service providers per 100,000 U.S. residents by state. The census was conducted by the Bureau of Justice Statistics with support from OVC.
PDF
 
Criminal Victimization, 2018 (September 2019) BJS, Bulletin, BJS Bulletins, 37 pages, NCJ 253043.
This annual report provides official estimates of criminal victimizations reported and not reported to police from the Bureau of Justice Statistics’ National Crime Victimization Survey. It describes the characteristics of crimes, victims, and offenders.

Part Of the BJS Bulletins Series Abstract | PDF (Summary) | PDF (Full Report)
 
Indicators of School Crime and Safety: 2018 (April 2019) BJS, Report, 268 pages, NCJ 252571.
This annual report presents data on school crime and safety from the perspectives of students, teachers, and principals. It contains 22 indicators of school crime and safety, including violent deaths; nonfatal student and teacher victimization; school environment; fights, weapons, and illegal substances; fear and avoidance; discipline, safety, and security measures; and postsecondary campus safety and security.
Abstract | PDF
 
Victims of Identity Theft, 2016 (January 2019) BJS, Bulletin, BJS Bulletins, 28 pages, NCJ 251147.
This report presents data on the prevalence and nature of identity theft against persons age 16 or older in 2016, including how victims discovered the crime; financial losses and other consequences; reporting the incident to credit card companies, credit bureaus, and police; the level of distress experienced by victims; lifetime prevalence rates of identity theft; and preventive action taken to reduce the risk of identity theft.

Part Of the BJS Bulletins Series Abstract | PDF (Summary) | PDF (Full Report)
 
National Elder Mistreatment Survey: 5 Year Follow-up of Victims and Matched Non-Victims (2018) NIJ-Sponsored, Grant, 13 pages, NCJ 252029.
The purpose of this project was to follow the first National Elder Mistreatment Study, which provided prevalence estimates, with a second study of a subset of the same participants. This follow-up study measures the effects of elder abuse in terms of (1) health and mental health outcomes and (2) criminal justice system participation and satisfaction, as well as additional predictors of these effects. The enduring negative health and mental health effects of elder mistreatment, including financial mistreatment, were evident from 8-year follow-up data, although these effects appear to be mitigated, in large part, by current social support. Results from this study indicate that elder financial mistreatment perpetrated by family, friends, and acquaintances is far less likely to be reported than the same behaviors perpetrated by strangers.
Abstract | PDF
 

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Each month the Nation's experts answer your questions about best practices in victim services. Below are upcoming and most recent session discussions in this topic:

On Sep 14 2016 at 2:00PM, Donna Barry, APN, FN-CSA, DNP, has been the Director of the University Health Center at Montclair State University, and Anthony Walker, former Chief of Police for Norfolk State University, hosted a discussion on Campus Services for Victims of Sexual Assault

On Jul 20 2016 at 2:00PM, Merry O'Brien, M.S.W., the Network for Victim Recovery of DC’s Identity Theft Assistance, and Paula Pierce, J.D., former Manager of Hotline Services for Texas Legal Services Center, hosted a discussion on Serving Victims of Financial Fraud and Fraud Prevention

On Jul 13 2016 at 2:00PM, Pamela Todd, Ph.D., CEO and founder of Ray of Hope Foster Care, Inc.,, and Diane Payne, owner of Justice for Native Children Consulting, hosted a discussion on Support and Services for Drug-Endangered Children

On Apr 7 2016 at 2:00PM, Kristian Hall, Sexual Assault Response Coordinator, North Carolina National Guard, and Yvonne Viel, Sexual Assault Response Coordinator, Test Wing, Eglin Air Force Base, Florida, hosted a discussion on Confidentiality for Victims of Military Sexual Trauma

On Nov 17 2015 at 2:00PM, Geri Wisner, Tribal Prosecutor for the Pawnee Nation and Wyandotte Tribe of Oklahoma, and Sarah Collins, Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of South Dakota, hosted a discussion on Improving Federal Agency Response to Sexual Violence in Indian Country


How do I report elder abuse/exploitation?
If you or someone you know is in life-threatening danger, call 911. If the danger is not immediate, ... Read More

What is the federal government doing to combat human trafficking?
Although the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has long enforced criminal laws against involuntary se... Read More

How many people are murdered in the United States each year?
The United States uses two national data collection systems to track detailed information on homicid... Read More

How many crime victims know the person who committed the crime against them?
The Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS) report, Criminal Victimization in the United States, Statisti... Read More

How many homicide victims were killed with a handgun?
Statistics on homicides committed with a handgun are available in the Bureau of Justice Statistics (... Read More

More FAQs


FY 2020 Housing Assistance Grants for Victims of Human Trafficking (PDF 1.6 mb)
Deadline: 02/03/2020
The program will support the following types of housing assistance for victims of all forms of human trafficking: (1) transitional housing, including funding for the operating expenses of a newly developed or existing transitional housing program; (2) short-term housing assistance, including rental or utilities payment assistance and assistance with related expenses. Projects must also include support services designed to enable victims of human trafficking and any dependents to locate and secure permanent housing and find employment. OVC conducted a pre-application webinar on December 19, 2019, and a recording and transcript of this webinar are available at www.ovc.gov/grants/webinars.html. View changes to page 6 of the solicitation at www.ovc.gov/grants/pdftxt/fy-2020-housing-assistance-change.pdf. Apply by February 3, 2020.

More Funding Opportunities


Publications

OVC and OVC-Sponsored Publications

Assistance For U.S. Citizen Victims of Crime Abroad (2019) OVC-Sponsored, 2 pages, NCJ 253770. This brochure provides information on the services that the U.S. Department of State can provide to U.S. citizens who become victims of crime while abroad. The brochure was created by the U.S. Department of State with support from the Office for Victims of Crime.
Abstract | PDF
 
What We Know About Identity Theft and Fraud Victims From Research- and Practice-Based Evidence (August 2019) OVC-Sponsored, 36 pages, NCJ 253627. This report compiles research about identity theft and fraud victimization. The report covers research on topics including the prevalence of identity theft and fraud; risk and protective factors; and prevention, intervention, and victim services.
Abstract | PDF
 
Elder Abuse Fatality Review Teams: A Replication Manual (June 2019) OVC-Sponsored, Grant, 201 pages, NCJ 210901. Elder abuse fatality review teams review deaths caused by or related to elder abuse and can improve the response of community agencies to elder abuse victims. This publication, created with funding support from OVC, provides guidance to communities interested in establishing similar teams. This document was updated in June 2019 to include information on the criteria and selection of cases for review, confidentiality practices, preventing "blame and shame," and a comparison of 27 categories of professionals serving as team members. It is available electronically from American Bar Association Commission on Law and Aging (www.americanbar.org/groups/law_aging/resources/elder_abuse/elder-abuse-fatality-review-team-projects-and-resources).
Abstract | PDF | HTML
 
Advancing the Implementation of Effective, Survivor-Driven Advocacy (May 2019) OVC-Sponsored, Grant, 38 pages, NCJ 253514. This publication describes a project which seeks to 1) enhance the quality of advocacy for domestic violence survivors and their children provided by a domestic violence program, Courage Connection, 2) increase Courage Connection’s capacity to engage in ongoing evaluation of their service delivery efforts, and 3) generate research knowledge about the conditions in which effective survivor-centered advocacy services are implemented in a domestic violence program setting.
Abstract | PDF
 
Research Brief: Identity Theft and Fraud (March 2019) OVC-Sponsored, 6 pages, NCJ 252720. This fact sheet provides a comprehensive review of research on identity theft and fraud. The research brief describes services available to victims and important areas where field needs to grow.
Abstract | PDF
 

OJP Publications

Victim Service Providers in the United States, 2017 (November 2019) BJS, NCJ 252648. This report provides statistics from the National Census of Victim Service Providers, the first national data collection on the number and characteristics of these organizations. The report describes the types of organizations that serve victims, maps their locations, and reports on the rate of victim service providers per 100,000 U.S. residents by state. The census was conducted by the Bureau of Justice Statistics with support from OVC.
PDF
 
Criminal Victimization, 2018 (September 2019) BJS, Bulletin, BJS Bulletins, 37 pages, NCJ 253043. This annual report provides official estimates of criminal victimizations reported and not reported to police from the Bureau of Justice Statistics’ National Crime Victimization Survey. It describes the characteristics of crimes, victims, and offenders.
Part Of the BJS Bulletins Series
Abstract | PDF (Summary) | PDF (Full Report)
 
Indicators of School Crime and Safety: 2018 (April 2019) BJS, Report, 268 pages, NCJ 252571. This annual report presents data on school crime and safety from the perspectives of students, teachers, and principals. It contains 22 indicators of school crime and safety, including violent deaths; nonfatal student and teacher victimization; school environment; fights, weapons, and illegal substances; fear and avoidance; discipline, safety, and security measures; and postsecondary campus safety and security.
Abstract | PDF
 
Victims of Identity Theft, 2016 (January 2019) BJS, Bulletin, BJS Bulletins, 28 pages, NCJ 251147. This report presents data on the prevalence and nature of identity theft against persons age 16 or older in 2016, including how victims discovered the crime; financial losses and other consequences; reporting the incident to credit card companies, credit bureaus, and police; the level of distress experienced by victims; lifetime prevalence rates of identity theft; and preventive action taken to reduce the risk of identity theft.
Part Of the BJS Bulletins Series
Abstract | PDF (Summary) | PDF (Full Report)
 
National Elder Mistreatment Survey: 5 Year Follow-up of Victims and Matched Non-Victims (2018) NIJ-Sponsored, Grant, 13 pages, NCJ 252029. The purpose of this project was to follow the first National Elder Mistreatment Study, which provided prevalence estimates, with a second study of a subset of the same participants. This follow-up study measures the effects of elder abuse in terms of (1) health and mental health outcomes and (2) criminal justice system participation and satisfaction, as well as additional predictors of these effects. The enduring negative health and mental health effects of elder mistreatment, including financial mistreatment, were evident from 8-year follow-up data, although these effects appear to be mitigated, in large part, by current social support. Results from this study indicate that elder financial mistreatment perpetrated by family, friends, and acquaintances is far less likely to be reported than the same behaviors perpetrated by strangers.
Abstract | PDF
 

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Related Resources

OVC Funded Resources

Agency's Use of Technology Best Practices & Policies Toolkit
When using technology, both victim advocates and survivors need to consider safety, privacy, and security. This resource provides guidance for programs that provide services to victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, and trafficking on best practices to help maintain the safety and security of crime victims and their personal information. The toolkit was produced by the National Network to End Domestic Violence's Safety Net Project which develops resources and information on the use of technology for survivors and the agencies that support them.
 
National Crime Prevention Council (NCPC): Cyberbullying
The National Crime Prevention Council, through funding from OVC, offers resources including fact sheets and four podcasts about general cyberbullying information, taking action in schools, creating community change, and how teens feel about cyberbullying.
 
Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network (RAINN)
RAINN operates a 24-hour telephone hotline (1-800-656-HOPE) and an Online Hotline for victims of sexual assault. The secure web-based hotline provides a safe, secure, and anonymous place for victims to get help online. RAINN also works to promote education and prevention of sexual assault, compiles and shares links to Legal Resources, including the State Mandatory Regulations regarding children and the elderly.
 
Tribal Resource Tool: Resources for Survivors of Crime and Abuse
The Tribal Resource Tool is a searchable map of victim service programs for survivors of crime and abuse in Indian Country. Organizations that provide services to American Indians and Alaska Natives may submit a request for inclusion in the map. The tool was developed by the National Center for Victims of Crime, the National Congress of American Indians, and the Tribal Law and Policy Institute, with funding support from OVC. These OVC grantees are also using the tool to identify gaps in services.
 
WomensLaw.org
A project of the National Network to End Domestic Violence, this website provides state-specific legal information and resources for survivors of abuse.
 

Federal Resources

Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS): National Victimization Analysis Tool (NVAT)
This dynamic analysis tool allows you to examine National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS) data, the nation's primary source of information on criminal victimization, on both violent and property victimization by select victim, household, and incident characteristics.
 
Social Security Administration: Office of the Inspector General
Among its responsibilities, this office is tasked to prevent and detect fraud, waste, and abuse in Social Security Administration programs and operations. The office operates a fraud hotline where you can report suspected cases of fraud, waste, and abuse.
 
U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ): Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS)
CEOS works to combat incidences of child exploitation and trafficking of women and children. Issues under the CEOS umbrella include child pornography, illegal interstate or international transportation of women and children, international parental abduction, computer-related exploitation of children, and child victimization on federal and Indian lands.
 
U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ): Elder Justice Initiative
This site serves as a resource for victims of elder abuse and financial exploitation and their families, practitioners who serve them, law enforcement agencies and prosecutors, and researchers seeking to understand and address this silent epidemic plaguing our nation's elders. Victims and family members will find information about how to report and get assistance for victims of elder abuse and financial exploitation in all 50 states and the U.S. territories.
 
U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ): Trafficking in Persons
This Web site provides links to the Attorney General's Annual Report to Congress on U.S. Government Activities to Combat Trafficking in Persons.
 

Non-Governmental Resources

American Bar Association (ABA): Commission on Domestic Violence
The Commission on Domestic Violence Web site provides ABA policies, training materials, legal briefs, and sample legal forms relevant to domestic violence issues and proceedings. The site also includes information about upcoming events and training opportunities and links to other resources and organizations.
 
Finding the Right Fit: Decision-Making Supports and Guardianship Training
This online course trains participants on ways to help older adults make financial decisions with informal supports, legal options, or adult guardianship. Among the topics covered are ways to prevent and address abuse, neglect, and financial exploitation. This training was produced by the National Center for State Courts with the assistance of the American Bar Association Commission on Law and Aging and supported by a contract funded by the Office for Victims of Crime and awarded by the Elder Justice Initiative, U.S. Department of Justice.
 
Greenbook Initiative
The Greenbook Initiative helps child welfare workers, domestic violence advocates and family court judges in communities across the country change their approach to family violence to better help battered women and their children achieve safety.
 
National Council on Aging: Savvy Saving Seniors
This site provides seniors with information on how to budget, avoid scams, apply for benefits, and manage prepaid debit cards which can help them stay secure and independent longer.
 
National Fallen Firefighters Foundation
Through its Survivor Support Network and other specialized programs, this foundation increases services available to families of fallen firefighters.
 

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Web Forum Discussions

Each month the Nation's experts answer your questions about best practices in victim services. Below are upcoming and most recent session discussions in this topic:

On Sep 14 2016 at 2:00PM, Donna Barry, APN, FN-CSA, DNP, has been the Director of the University Health Center at Montclair State University, and Anthony Walker, former Chief of Police for Norfolk State University, hosted a discussion on Campus Services for Victims of Sexual Assault

On Jul 20 2016 at 2:00PM, Merry O'Brien, M.S.W., the Network for Victim Recovery of DC’s Identity Theft Assistance, and Paula Pierce, J.D., former Manager of Hotline Services for Texas Legal Services Center, hosted a discussion on Serving Victims of Financial Fraud and Fraud Prevention

On Jul 13 2016 at 2:00PM, Pamela Todd, Ph.D., CEO and founder of Ray of Hope Foster Care, Inc.,, and Diane Payne, owner of Justice for Native Children Consulting, hosted a discussion on Support and Services for Drug-Endangered Children

On Apr 7 2016 at 2:00PM, Kristian Hall, Sexual Assault Response Coordinator, North Carolina National Guard, and Yvonne Viel, Sexual Assault Response Coordinator, Test Wing, Eglin Air Force Base, Florida, hosted a discussion on Confidentiality for Victims of Military Sexual Trauma

On Nov 17 2015 at 2:00PM, Geri Wisner, Tribal Prosecutor for the Pawnee Nation and Wyandotte Tribe of Oklahoma, and Sarah Collins, Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of South Dakota, hosted a discussion on Improving Federal Agency Response to Sexual Violence in Indian Country


FAQs

How do I report elder abuse/exploitation?
If you or someone you know is in life-threatening danger, call 911. If the danger is not immediate, ... Read More

What is the federal government doing to combat human trafficking?
Although the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has long enforced criminal laws against involuntary se... Read More

How many people are murdered in the United States each year?
The United States uses two national data collection systems to track detailed information on homicid... Read More

How many crime victims know the person who committed the crime against them?
The Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS) report, Criminal Victimization in the United States, Statisti... Read More

How many homicide victims were killed with a handgun?
Statistics on homicides committed with a handgun are available in the Bureau of Justice Statistics (... Read More

Back to Top

Funding

FY 2020 Housing Assistance Grants for Victims of Human Trafficking (PDF 1.6 mb)
Deadline: 02/03/2020
The program will support the following types of housing assistance for victims of all forms of human trafficking: (1) transitional housing, including funding for the operating expenses of a newly developed or existing transitional housing program; (2) short-term housing assistance, including rental or utilities payment assistance and assistance with related expenses. Projects must also include support services designed to enable victims of human trafficking and any dependents to locate and secure permanent housing and find employment. OVC conducted a pre-application webinar on December 19, 2019, and a recording and transcript of this webinar are available at www.ovc.gov/grants/webinars.html. View changes to page 6 of the solicitation at www.ovc.gov/grants/pdftxt/fy-2020-housing-assistance-change.pdf. Apply by February 3, 2020.

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EventsDirectoryE-Mail Updates
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National Calendar of Crime Victim Assistance-Related Events
Upcoming Event(s)

Online Directory of Crime Victims Services.

About OVC.gov

Office for Victims of Crime
810 Seventh Street NW., Washington, DC 20531
The Office for Victims of Crime is a component of the Office of Justice Programs, U.S. Department of Justice.

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