Recovery Act Victims of Crime Act Funding Opportunities (VOCA)

The purpose of VOCA is to provide direct assistance to victims of crime as soon as possible after the crime occurs in order to reduce the severity of the consequences of victimization, to improve the victim’s willingness to cooperate with the criminal justice process, and to restore the victim’s faith in the criminal justice system.


• Montana's VOCA grantees have experienced significant funding decreases over several recent grant cycles.  This is due to substantial caps placed on Federal Crime Victim funds.  The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (Recovery Act) provides additional VOCA funds to states this year. Several factors were considered in determining eligibility for the Recovery Act funding.  These include the historic funding decreases which have threatened the viability of basic victim services around the state, the limited amount of the Recovery Act allocation to the state and the additional strenuous Recovery Act reporting requirements.  Consistent with the Act's intent to retain jobs, MBCC chose to open eligibility to existing programs.  It is MBCC's hope that in combination with 2009 VOCA funding, Montana will preserve and protect victim programs as well those who provide the invaluable services.
  For further information in regards to the award process for VOCA funds, please contact Stacye Dorrington at (406) 444-4763 or sdorrington@mt.gov.
  
  
  

• Further information in regards to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 and how it pertains to VOCA: www.ojp.usdoj.gov/ovc/.