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Charlotte Amalie
Thursday, March 28, 2024
HomeNewsLocal governmentU.S. Department of Justice Grants $823,616 to USVI for Crime Victim Services

U.S. Department of Justice Grants $823,616 to USVI for Crime Victim Services

The Virgin Islands Law Enforcement Planning Commission has received an $823,616 grant in support of crime victim assistance programs. The award from the Office for Victims of Crime supports the critical work of LEPC’s efforts to improve services to victims of crime in the territory.

Sen. Kurt Vialet, right, received testimony on the proposed fiscal year 2022 executive budget Thursday from the VIPD, the Law Enforcement Planning Commission and the V.I. Office of Veterans Affairs. (Photo by V.I. Legislature)

“The Law Enforcement Planning Commission provides victims of crime assistance funds to nonprofit victim services and government agencies in the U.S. Virgin Islands,” U.S. Attorney Gretchen Shappert said. “These funds support direct services to assist crime victims in their recovery from victimization.”

The award is one of 26 totaling $597,916,462 made nationwide by the Office for Victims of Crime’s State and Territorial Victims of Crime Program.

Each year, OVC awards formula and discretionary grants to enhance the delivery of crime victim services throughout the nation. Funds are for the purposes of assisting crime victims and providing leadership in changing attitudes, policies and practices to promote justice and healing for all crime victims.

The Office for Victims of Crime funding supports victims of tribal communities, state and territory victim compensation and assistance programs, training and technical assistance and information resources, victims of international terrorism and mass violence, federal agencies’ provision of victim services, survivors of human trafficking and demonstration of service projects.

Established in 1988 through an amendment to the Victims of Crime Act of 1984, OVC is charged by Congress with administering the Crime Victims Fund. Through OVC, the fund supports a broad array of programs and services that focus on helping victims in the immediate aftermath of crime and continuing to support them as they rebuild their lives.

Millions of dollars are invested annually in victim compensation and assistance in every U.S. state and territory, as well as for training, technical assistance, and other capacity-building programs designed to enhance service providers’ ability to support victims of crime in communities across the nation.

Learn more at www.ovc.ojp.gov.

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