Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) Assistance Funding
What does it 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.
Funding for Services for Victims of Gun Violence
Which states have targeted solicitations to use federal Victims of Crime Act funds for gun violence intervention or victim services funding?
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
Myth & Fact
Myth
VOCA victim assistance grants cannot be used to support gun violence intervention programs.
Fact
Many gun violence intervention organizations provide VOCA-eligible services to gun violence victims. Among these eligible services are crisis intervention, safety planning, mental health counseling, case management, and peer-to-peer support.
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%