Victim Witness Grant Program

The Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS) is seeking applications for its Victim Witness Grant Program (VWGP). This program provides financial support to local victim witness and statewide victim assistance programs. Its core mission is to offer direct services, information, and assistance as mandated by the Virginia Crime Victim and Witness Rights Act. The primary purpose of this funding, derived from the federal Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) Rule, is to support the delivery of essential services to crime victims. The program aims to address the emotional, psychological, or physical needs of crime victims, help them stabilize their lives after victimization, assist them in understanding and participating in the criminal justice system, and restore a measure of security and safety. The target beneficiaries of the VWGP are victims of crime across all counties in Virginia. The program's impact goals center on providing comprehensive direct services across various categories. These include information and referrals (e.g., about the criminal justice process, victims' rights, and other services), personal advocacy and accompaniment services (e.g., to medical care, forensic examinations, and criminal justice events), emotional support and safety services (e.g., crisis intervention, safety planning, counseling, and support groups), shelter and safe housing options (e.g., emergency shelter, transitional housing, and relocation assistance), and criminal and civil justice system assistance (e.g., notification of events and accompaniment to court hearings). The VWGP prioritizes projects that directly serve victims of crime and utilize the Victims Services Data Collection System (VSDCS) to document these services. Furthermore, eligible projects must promote community collaboration, assist victims in seeking crime victim compensation benefits through the Virginia Victims Fund (VVF), and actively involve volunteers in grant-funded activities. Recipients are also required to provide program information to other victim assistance agencies, maintain statutorily required civil rights statistics, offer services free of charge, maintain confidentiality, and serve victims of federal crimes on the same basis as state/local crimes. The expected outcomes and measurable results revolve around the effective delivery of the aforementioned direct services to victims. Through the VSDCS, the program will document the reach and types of services provided by grant-funded staff and volunteers. Success will be measured by the program's ability to respond to victims' needs, assist in their stabilization, facilitate their participation in the justice system, and enhance their safety and security. The grant period for these subawards is for state fiscal year 2025, from July 1, 2024, through June 30, 2025, with applicants submitting one budget for the 12-month period. This framework ensures a focused and accountable approach to supporting crime victims throughout Virginia.