The Department of Justice and United States Attorney's Office for the Northern District of California announced today that more than $83 million has been awarded by the federal government to the State of California.  The funds, which come from criminal fines and penalties paid by criminal defendants in federal cases, is intended to be used to help victims of crime by funding domestic violence shelters, rape crisis centers and other local agencies.

Criminal fines collected by U.S. Attorneys, the U.S. Courts and the Bureau of Prisons are deposited into the Crime Victims Fund, which is administered by the Justice Department's Office for Victims of Crime ("OVC").  The Fund supports these annual victim assistance awards to all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and the territories.  Fines collected in one year are available for grant awards the following year.

Each year, funding is made available through the Fund to provide compensation to victims of crime to lessen their financial burden caused by the crime.  This year's award represents 60 percent of what California paid to eligible crime victims during FY 2001.  The state agency designated by the Governor to administer crime victim compensation in California is the California Victim Compensation and Government Claims Board.  This year $44,234,000 has been awarded to reimburse victims for some of the costs incurred as a result of a crime, such as medical expenses, lost wages, mental health counseling and care, and funeral expenses. 

In a similar  manner, funding is made available to provide assistance to crime victims through crime victim assistance programs.  The Office of Criminal Justice Planning, Victim Services/Violence Prevention Division is the designated agency for the State of California and has been awarded $39,613,000 to administer the crime victim assistance program.  State crime victim assistance programs subgrant Victim of Crime Act (VOCA) funds to local victim service providers to administer programs for victims of sexual assault, drunk

driving, child abuse, domestic violence, and other crimes.  Victims of federal and state crimes are eligible to receive VOCA-funded services.

As a result of these efforts, in Fiscal Year 2003, local crime victim assistance programs will receive a total of $83 million in federal grant funds.  Through the states, OVC provides funding for approximately 6,400 victim assistance programs serving 3.2 million crime victims each year.  California's share will be $83,847,000 for this year.

 "Since the Crime Victims Fund was established in 1986, crime victims across California have received significant services and economic assistance" said OJP Assistant Attorney General Deborah J. Daniels.  "The Justice Department is pleased to support both the collection efforts for the Crime Victims Fund, which provides these program dollars, and the allocation of these resources to help California's crime victims."

"These grants play a critical role in aiding crime victims in California, be it through direct victim support or through community-based efforts that provide care and comfort," said OVC Director John W. Gillis. 

The federal victim assistance grant program is designed to supplement state victim assistance programs.  OVC awards the annual grants to state agencies selected by governors, which subgrant the federal dollars to local community agencies that assist crime victims.