On April 4, 2023, the Center for American Progress, along with 47 organizations advocating on behalf of victims, submitted comments to the U.S. Office for Victims of Crime (OVC) regarding the agency’s proposal to replace the existing Victims of Crime Act Victim Compensation Grant Program guidelines to increase equitable access to victim services.
CAP commends the OVC’s efforts to promote more fair and equitable administration of the Victim Compensation Grant Program by expanding compensation eligibility and removing barriers that have historically led to disparate access among crime victims. In particular, CAP applauds the OVC’s commitment to engaging victims, advocates, and communities through 10 listening sessions over two years and proposing rule changes that directly reflect feedback from those sessions. Additionally, CAP’s comment calls for the OVC to make changes to the proposed rules to improve the program’s accountability and transparency, ensuring more equitable access for the most underserved populations.
Click here to read CAP’s comment letter on the Victim Compensation Grant Program.