OVC FY25 Invited to Apply Antiterrorism and Emergency Assistance Program for Crime Victim Compensation and/or Assistance - Wisconsin Crisis Response

The Office for Victims of Crime (OVC), within the U.S. Department of Justice, administers the Antiterrorism and Emergency Assistance Program for Terrorism and Mass Violence Crimes. This program was authorized by several federal statutes, including the Antiterrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act of 1996, the Victims of Trafficking and Violence Protection Act of 2000, and the USA PATRIOT Act of 2001. It provides the federal government with authority to support victim compensation and assistance services following incidents of terrorism and mass violence, both within the United States and abroad. These guidelines are intended to ensure the proper administration of funds from the Antiterrorism Emergency Reserve, which was established to provide timely relief to victims and affected jurisdictions. The program is designed to supplement existing resources and ensure that victims of terrorism and mass violence receive essential assistance. Funds are not automatically allocated; applicants must demonstrate that requested support supplements rather than supplants existing funding. Non-federal contributions, either in cash or in-kind, are expected. Federal agencies are not required to contribute. OVC works closely with other federal agencies such as the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the Department of Health and Human Services’ Center for Mental Health Services, the Department of Education, and the Department of State to coordinate expertise and maximize funding to assist victims. The program provides five types of assistance: crisis response grants, consequence management grants, criminal justice support grants, compensation grants, and technical assistance. Crisis response grants provide up to nine months of short-term assistance for immediate victim needs. Consequence management grants extend up to eighteen months and provide longer-term support for recovery. Criminal justice support grants, lasting up to thirty-six months, are designed to facilitate victim participation in investigations and prosecutions. Compensation grants are directed to state programs that reimburse victims for eligible expenses, including medical care, counseling, funeral costs, and lost wages. Technical assistance may be requested at any time to improve coordination and planning efforts, although it does not involve direct funding. Eligibility for this program includes state victim assistance and compensation programs, victim service organizations, public agencies at the federal, state, or local level, and non-governmental organizations providing assistance to victims. For international incidents, eligible beneficiaries include U.S. nationals and federal employees. In cases of domestic terrorism or mass violence, victims include individuals suffering physical or emotional harm, as well as those likely to experience trauma due to proximity, including emergency responders. Funding will not be provided directly to individual victims except through compensation benefits for international terrorism cases. Applications must be submitted as soon as appropriate following an incident. For state compensation programs, requests must include a description of the qualifying crime, projections of claims, maximum award amounts by category, and assurances via federal forms. Other applicants must submit letters describing the crime, the number of victims, services provided or requested, the applicant’s role in victim response, requested funding, and coordination with other entities. OVC aims to provide rapid support, reviewing applications within five business days and notifying applicants via phone, internet, or fax. There is no fixed deadline, though the type of assistance available is dependent on when the application is filed relative to the incident. The amount of funding available is determined case by case, factoring in the severity of the incident, number of victims, and availability of other resources. OVC does not provide full reimbursement for costs, as funds are intended to supplement state and local resources. Unused funds must be returned at the end of the grant period. The program also imposes requirements related to confidentiality and privacy, ensuring that identifiable victim information is not disclosed without consent. Recipients of funds must comply with reporting requirements, including semiannual and final progress reports detailing services provided, statistics on victims served, expenditures, unmet needs, and effectiveness assessments. These reports are used to inform program improvements, training, and congressional reporting. For further information, applicants may contact the Terrorism and International Victims Unit at the Office for Victims of Crime, 810 Seventh Street, NW, Washington, DC 20531, telephone (202) 307-5983. These guidelines became effective on January 31, 2002, and remain in force until reissuance by OVC.