VICTIMS OF CRIME ACT (VOCA)
ASSISTANCE GRANTS

The Crime Victims Assistance Grant Program is a result of the Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) signed into law by President Ronald Reagan on October 12, 1984. The Act created the Crime Victims Fund which is financed through fines and assessments on criminals at the federal level. No tax dollars go into the Fund.

VOCA Assistance Grants are dispersed through the Office for Victims of Crime, U.S. Department of Justice and are awarded to each state and several territories based on a specific formula. States are then responsible for subgranting the money to approved applicants in order to help finance their crime victim service programs. Applicants may include non-profit agencies, state and local government agencies, and American Indian Tribes.  The District Attorneys Council is the State Administering Agency (SAA) for the VOCA Grant.

In Oklahoma, a nine-member Victims of Crime Act Board makes the funding decisions. Click here for a list of the current board members. VOCA funds are awarded yearly on a competitive basis. Pursuant to the Victims of Crime Act, the VOCA Board must give priority to applicants serving victims of sexual assault, domestic violence, child abuse and unserved/underserved victims. Federal regulations require that each of these service areas receive a minimum of 10% of the total grant funds.

In order for applicants to be eligible, the applicant must be a non-profit agency, a local government, a state government, or an American Indian Tribe. In addition, the applicant must certify funds will only be used for direct victim services; and, provide a 25% cash or in-kind match. American Indian Tribes have a 5% match requirement. Click here for a detailed description of the eligibility requirements and allowable costs under the VOCA grant.

VOCA Cycle

Early December

Requests for Proposals (RFPs) are e-mailed and mailed to current subrecipients, DA Offices, Police Departments and Sheriff’s Offices, Native American Tribes, CASAs, and any other agencies that have requested to be placed on the mailing list.  VOCA Applications are available through OKGrants.

Early March

VOCA applications are due.  Applications received after the deadlines are automatically denied by the VOCA Board.

March-July

Grants are  thoroughly reviewed by VOCA staff.  Staff recommendations are prepared and information is sent to the Board for grant review.        

August

The VOCA Board (comprised of 9 members) meets for three days.  The first  day allows subrecipients to be present for questions by the Board.  The second day is for teleconferences with subrecipients and the third day is when funding decisions are made.

September

Financial Meetings are held at DAC.  All grantees are required to attend one financial meeting either in person or via webinar, as required.  New subrecipients are required to attend in-person the first two years of funding. Purchase Orders for each grant are created through the People Soft system. Subawards are entered in the Grant Project Module for billing and tracking of each separate Federal contract.

October

VOCA subgrant programs begin. Subrecipients accept the award through OKGrants prior to the beginning of the grant cycle (by September 30).   The Performance Measure Report for Quarter ending Sept. 30th is due October 30th.

November

The first draw down requests are due from subrecipients through OKGrants. This request is made by completing and submitting the Monthly Funds Request (MFR) form in OKGrants.  This form must be submitted by the 15th of each month thereafter in order to receive reimbursement of grant expenditures.  The Subgrant Award Report (SAR) is due to DAC by November 30th.   This report will be sent to subrecipients from DAC.

December 31

This is the end of first quarter. 

January

Financial Quarterly Reports are due to DAC by January 15th.  Performance Measures reports are due by January 30th. 

March 31        

End of second quarter. 

April

Financial Quarterly Reports are due to DAC by April 15th. Performance Measures reports are due by April 30th.

June 30

End of third quarter. 

July

Financial Quarterly Reports are due to DAC by July 15th. Performance Measures reports are due by July 30th.  Final grant adjustments should be made by July 1 or the date specified by DAC during the financial training.

September 30           

End of fourth quarter.  The VOCA grant period ends. 

October 15

Final financial draw for month ending September 30th is due October 15th.  Performance Measures reports are due October 30th, and include narrative questions for subrecipients to answer.